Palatine store owner accused of trading in stolen liquor, tobacco

A Palatine liquor store owner has been charged with buying stolen tobacco and liquor and reselling it at his Buffalo Grove store, Palatine police said.

According to police, Manoj Bharucha, 45, of the 1000 block of North Penny Lane, Palatine, bought the stolen goods at his Palatine Quick Stop, 427 E. Palatine Road, and then resold them at BG Pantry/Liquor at 223 W. Dundee Road in Buffalo Grove.

Palatine and Mount Prospect police officers investigated Bharucha for five months while undercover officers sold him numerous purported stolen bottles of liquor at his Palatine Quick Stop, according to the release.

Over five months, undercover officers sold many purported stolen bottles of liquor to Bharucha at the Palatine Quick Stop, police said. Officers from Palatine, Buffalo Grove and Mount Prospect departments used search warrants to investigate Bharucha's home and his two convenience stores, collecting evidence that led to one felony count of continuing a financial crimes enterprise.

The Cook County Sheriff's Police Department of Revenue joined the investigation after tobacco products with improper tax stamps were found at Bharucha's store.

Bharucha was released Sept. 11 after posting 10 percent of his $20,000 bond.

His next court date is Oct. 8 at the Third Municipal District Courthouse in Rolling Meadows.