Rewa police have arrested a man for allegedly running an illegal liquor business under the cover of a cold drink and packaged water shop, seizing 24 litres of illicit liquor during a raid in the city's University police station area.

According to police, the action was carried out on Friday following a tip-off that a shop located near a petrol pump on the bypass road was secretly selling liquor while operating as a soft drink and bottled water outlet.

Raid Conducted After Informer Tip

University Police Station in-charge Hitendranath Sharma said the police received credible information from an informer regarding the illegal sale of liquor from the shop.

Acting on the input, a police team conducted a raid at the premises and carried out a detailed search. During the operation, officers recovered 24 litres of illegal liquor, confirming the allegations made by the informer.

Shop Owner Arrested

Police arrested Vinod Mishra (37), son of Babulal Mishra, from the spot. He is a native of Mahmudpur in Mangawan and currently resides in Kailashpuri, where he also operates the shop near the bypass petrol pump.

The seized liquor has been taken into police custody, and the accused has been booked under the provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Excise Act.

Supply Network Under Investigation

City Superintendent of Police Rajiv Pathak said investigators are now focusing on identifying the source of the illegal liquor and determining whether a larger distribution network is involved.

Police are examining the supply chain and investigating if other individuals were associated with the illegal trade. Officials indicated that further action would be taken based on the findings of the ongoing investigation.

The operation is part of the district police's continued drive against the illegal manufacture, storage and sale of liquor in the region.