THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Excise officials of Aryanad range have arrested a 54-year-old man after raiding a hooch brewing unit that was function in the midst of rubber plantations here.
The officials identified the accused as Johny, a resident of Erakkonam near Kattakkada.
His accomplice, identified as Vishnu, managed to escape.
According to Excise officials, the catch was made during a raid conducted late on Wednesday night near Valiyavila Lakshamveedu Colony near Aryanad.
The accused had setup a liquor brewing unit on the bank of a stream that flowed between two rubber plantations here.
The officials have also seized 18 litres of hooch from the spot.
Aryanad Excise Range inspector SB Adarsh, who led the team that made the catch, said that Johny was a daily wages labourer by profession.
His wife hails from Valiyavila Lakshamveedu Colony.
Vishnu happens to be a relative of Johny’s wife.
“Vishnu is a known brewer among the tipplers here.
Though we were also aware of his activities, he always managed to evade arrest,” Adarsh said, adding that Vishnu’s father was also arrested several times in the past for the same offence.
After the current lockdown commenced, Johny also joined Vishnu’s activities.
The duo had been selling the hooch to tipplers in the locality at prices ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per bottle.
A search is on to track down Vishnu and arrest him.