The bootlegger mafia uses women as smugglers to avoid detection

THE interrogation of three women arrested with 100 litres of illicit liquor at CST yesterday has led the cops to suspect that the bootlegging mafia is using members of the fairer sex for smuggling to avoid detection. Police officials say the arrest is also an indicator of the rising hooch trade in the city.


Police officials say the arrest is an indicator of the rising hooch trade in the city

A special squad of female RPF officials posted in the Matrubhumi ladies' special from Kalyan to CST discovered that illicit liquor was being carried in the train when most of the passengers in the compartment got off at Dadar and they got a strong smell of alcohol.

They inspected the compartment and found 10 balloons full of country-made liquor hidden under a seat.

One of the officers informed Sub-Inspector A K Pandey of the CST RPF, who arrested the three accused with the help of a squad when the train rolled into the station.

The accused have been identified as Jayshree Shankar Nadar (31), Jyoti Kumar Shetty (33) and Laxmi Swaminathan (40), all of whom are Dharavi residents.

Bigger racket

A police officer said the women confessed to being part of a much bigger racket. "They said their team has 25 members.

They load the liquor, which is made in Shahad and Diva, at Kalyan and then offload it at Kurla or Sion. Yesterday, however, they fell asleep and awoke only at Byculla station," he said.

"We have handed over the matter to the CST Government Railway Police. The accused are in a lock-up at Kurla and will be produced in court on Wednesday," said Pandey.