Mambad: The Excise Department has arrested a youth for the illegal production of illicit liquor in underground cellars at his home. A total of 1.75 litres of arrack, 60 litres of wash used for brewing the arrack, and other equipment were seized from the house of Raju (45), a native of Meppadam, Mambad.

The excise team, led by Kalikavu range inspector T C Aneesh, reached Raju’s house around 8.30 pm following a tip-off. The officers noticed heaps of metal, laterite stones and other waste materials covered with a plastic sheet in a shed near the bathroom.

Growing suspicious, the team thoroughly inspected the shed and found concrete slabs on the floor beneath the rubble. On moving the slabs, they discovered secret underground cellars where Raju had stored the arrack wash and other brewing equipment.

Three more such cellars were discovered in different parts of the house. Each cellar had the capacity to store up to 600 litres of wash. The excise team comprised assistant inspector K M Shivaprakash, preventive officer K S Arunkumar, and CPOs Muhammad Shereef, K V Vipin, K Amit, Muhammad Habeeb and P Rajani. Meanwhile, the accused has been remanded by the court.