Gujarat Police Seize Liquor Worth Over Rs 2 Crore in Four Raids, Five Arrested

The operations resulted in the seizure of around 36,330 bottles of liquor, along with vehicles, mobile phones, cash and other items. Five people were arrested in connection with the cases, while 21 others were declared wanted.

The biggest seizure was reported from Bharuch district, where the SMC recovered around 958 boxes containing 23,460 bottles of IMFL and beer. The liquor was valued at Rs 1.43 crore. The operation was carried out near the outskirts of Khalpiya village on the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway, within the jurisdiction of Ankleshwar Rural police station.

Police also seized a vehicle and two mobile phones, taking the total value of the recovered property to Rs 1.74 crore. Anwarsha Mohammad Hanif Belgavkar, a resident of Hubli in Karnataka, was arrested.

Five other accused have been named as wanted in the Bharuch case, including a person identified as Sheth, who allegedly arranged the consignment from Haryana, Sikandar Sheikh of Hubli and three others, including the alleged recipient of the consignment and the truck owner.

In Jamnagar, the SMC recovered around 246 boxes containing 10,409 bottles of IMFL and beer valued at Rs 37.21 lakh. The raid was conducted on a public road in the GIDC area of Naghedi village in connection with alleged distribution of liquor.

Five vehicles, four mobile phones, cash and other material were also seized, taking the total value of the recovered property to Rs 1.37 crore.

Two persons, identified as Dipak alias Atapatu Jethwani of Jamnagar and Yuvrajsinh Chudasama of Naghedi, were arrested, while nine others were declared wanted.

Police said Jethwani has around 22 liquor-related cases registered against him across Jamnagar, Kutch, Morbi and Rajkot Rural districts. Three cases have been registered against Chudasama in Jamnagar and Rajkot City, and he is also wanted in a case registered by the DCB Police Station in Rajkot City.

The wanted accused in the Jamnagar case include Ram alias Ramko Modhwadia, Kana Modhwadia, Irfan Kasam Kateliya, Jignesh alias Jigo Vinod Khichda, Aspak of Nuh in Haryana and Rahul Razaq of Bharatpur in Rajasthan, besides three others linked to vehicles found at the scene.

Police said around 49 cases have been registered against Ram alias Ramko across Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Patan and Surendranagar districts. Five cases are registered against Kana in Jamnagar and Devbhumi Dwarka, while Irfan faces eight cases in the two districts. Jignesh has around 15 cases registered against him in Jamnagar.

In Ahmedabad Rural, the SMC seized around 35 boxes containing 410 bottles of IMFL and beer during a raid at Chitrakut Society in the Kolat village area of Sanand taluka. The liquor was valued at Rs 13.36 lakh.

A vehicle and two mobile phones were also recovered, taking the total value of the seizure to Rs 14.26 lakh. Kunj Patel of Bodakdev in Ahmedabad was arrested.

Five others are wanted in the case, including Arvindbhai Chhaganbhai Patel of Bodakdev and a person suspected of arranging the liquor consignment from Haryana through a transport network, along with three other accused.

In Valsad, police recovered around 60 boxes containing 2,051 bottles of IMFL and beer during a raid on a public road at Chokifaliya in Kalsargam under Pardi taluka. The liquor was valued at Rs 5.90 lakh.

Ten vehicles and two mobile phones were also seized, taking the total value of the recovered property to Rs 19.86 lakh. Sanjay alias Sanjay Bhayo Singh, a resident of Udvada in Valsad and originally from Ara district in Bihar, was arrested.

Police also issued notices to two women accused, while Bipin Patel of Daman, Kapil Bhandari of Orwad in Pardi and Kunal Patel were declared wanted.

Cases have been registered against the accused under relevant provisions of law, and further investigation is underway.