Unmasking the Secret World of Discounted Whisky and Haryana’s Land Policy Shift

In the world of fine spirits, a 750ml bottle of Black Label often carries a price tag of ₹3,000. But, something curious is happening in Gurugram. Online sellers and local stores are offering it for as low as ₹1,800, sometimes even less. The secret behind this astonishing price drop was revealed on a fateful day in April.
The police burst into a basement in Faridabad, uncovering a treasure trove of empty high-end whisky bottles, including iconic brands like Black Label, Glenlivet, Macallan, and the ultra-exclusive Amrut Greedy Angels. They also found the tools of the trade – bottle caps, corks, labels, and syringes, alongside some entry-level Indian whisky. It turns out, the steep discounts came from illegal activities.
Over the past nine months, the Gurugram police have been on a mission to stop the sale of counterfeit liquor. However, their efforts have mostly nabbed smaller players. In July, even a Sector 29 club was caught in the act, with two individuals refilling bottles.
In another development, Haryana is making a significant shift in its land policy. The state’s cabinet has given the green light to a policy that legitimizes thousands of residential plots in urban areas, which have been unlawfully repurposed for commercial use over the last five decades. A substantial change indeed.