LUCKNOW, Sept. 15 -- For the second time in recent weeks, the excise department has busted a racket in Lucknow selling cheap liquor packaged in premium brand bottles to unsuspecting customers. The officials arrested an accused following a raid on a house in Chitwapur locality under Hussainganj police station limits, during the early hours of Saturday and Sunday, officials said.

Acting on a tip-off, a team led by district excise officer (Lucknow) Karunendra Singh and excise inspector Arvind Baghel recovered empty 750ml and 375ml bottles of premium liquor brands, counterfeit caps, forged QR codes and about three litres of spurious liquor from the spot. The accused was identified as Ram Pal, son of Ram Lakhan Pal, a resident of Chitwapur. P...