Enterprising German guide thrived on liquor trade, held

For Schilay Anton — a 55-year-old German guide arrested by the south Delhi police on Wednesday — it was a routine conversation with a fellow expat that gave him the idea of selling liquor illegally to foreigners. Karn Pratap Singh reports.

For Schilay Anton — a 55-year-old German guide arrested by the south Delhi police on Wednesday — it was a routine conversation with a fellow expat that gave him the idea of selling liquor illegally to foreigners.

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It is this unique business idea that has been giving the Delhi excise department sleepless nights for the past five years. Anton — who is believed to have sold thousands of litres of liquor illegally to foreigners — used to run his business from a Mercedes Benz bus, which had international permit to move around the world.

Anton told the police that he is associated with a foreign tour agency and has been coming to with German tourists in winter for the past six years. During his visits to , he learnt that his fellow expats faced hassles while purchasing liquor here. Recognising it as a profitable business opportunity, he decided to supply liquor illegally to foreigners at high prices. Police said that Anton was apprehended with his Indian conduit, Satish Chand, 51, during a routine checking of vehicles near RK Khanna Stadium on Wednesday night.

Sub-inspector Rajneesh and two of his subordinates were checking vehicles, when they spotted a Mercedes Benz foreign bus (with registration number plate PA-PA-893).

“When the staff stopped and checked his vehicle, they found 29 Kingfisher beer cartons, each containing 24 bottles of beer. They also recovered 24 beer cans from inside the bus cabin,” said a senior police officer.

The duo was unable to produce the purchasing invoice and permit of the excise department.

A case under section 33 of the Delhi Excise Act was registered at Safdarjung Enclave police station and the two were arrested.