An eyewitness told The Indian Express: ``When we heard a lot of noise coming from the ITDC godown, we rushed down. We saw some people breaking expensive liquor bottles. I could not bear the sight. I asked the officials if I could take three bottles. When the official nodded, I picked three Black Label bottles and rushed out.''

Soon, word spread and there was a near stampede for bottles. ``People rushed to the basement from all floors of the hotel. The customs officials had already destroyed 1,000-odd bottles. We did not let them destroy the rest. It is not everyday that one gets Scotch free,'' a Centaur hotel staffer said.

The Customs officials looked confused and did not know how tomanage the situation. Vice-president of the duty-free shop in Delhi, Chandni Luthra said: ``The customs officials were destroying bottles that had been damaged in '93-94, when the warehouse had been flooded with rain water. According to customs regulations, we cannot sell damaged bottles at our duty-free shops at the airport.''

She added that it was the duty of the officials to see that no one makes good with the bottles.