KATHMANDU: Want to try Johnnie Walker Red Label whisky? Better give a second thought to it. The world-class liquor is now being illegally bottled and distributed by unidentified racketeers from an underground building in the capital.

In one of the biggest heists in recent memory, the Valley police on Wednesday uncovered a huge cache of fake Johnnie Walker Red Label being sold in the market through 'back-door'. They have found that some unidentified racketeers were illegally bottling and distributing the counterfeit liquor, taking advantage of the gullible customers.

“The world-class liquor has been found to be illegally bottled and disturbed in the market from an underground building in Kathmandu," informed SP Ganesh KC, in-charge, MPR.

The police have not made any arrest in connection with the bottling and distribution of tainted liquor. "We have launched a massive manhunt. We won't let them off the hook," he said.

The incident comes in the wake of public hue and cry about the substandard quality of liquor in the market.

Further details were sketchy as the police officers declined to divulge the details arguing that the racketeers would destroy the evidences.

Acting on a tip-off, a special squad of police personnel dispatched from the Metropolitan Police Range at Hanumandhoka, had discovered the racketing.

According to SP KC, the one-litre Red Label was selling at Rs 1,050 per bottle often through the 'back-door'. A genuine bottle of Red Label liquor would costs Rs 2,000. KC, further revealed that the fake Red Label brand was selling like hot cakes in luxurious hotels and restaurants in and around the Valley.

"The bottlers were in regular touch with the wholesalers and suppliers in the market. You can find the tainted Red Label in the shelves of liquor shops and luxurious hotels. If you want, and don't care about it, just go and try," said SP KC.

The seized bottles of Red Label don't have stamp of excise duty affixed on them under the law. "The bottles also have loose caps as compared to the genuine ones," KC added. Around 32 bottles of the liquors were made public amid a press meet organised here. "The rampant practice of selling tainted liquor wasn't only bleeding national economy but playing foul with public health," said SP KC, adding that they were close to uncovering other big rackets of fake liquor in the market.

The police are doing groundwork to send the sample of liquor to the lab to ascertain the level of harmful chemicals.