Ahmedabad Court Rejects Bail Plea of Alleged Inter-State Liquor Smuggling Kingpin under GUJCTOC

The Ahmedabad District and Sessions Court (Rural) has rejected a successive regular bail application filed by Bhuralal alias Bharat Langdo Dangi, a 43-year-old Rajasthan resident accused of operating an inter-state liquor smuggling network under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GujCTOC) Act.

Dangi, who is currently lodged at Sabarmati Central Jail, allegedly played a key role in a syndicate that procured Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) from Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan before transporting it into Gujarat for distribution through local bootleggers.

Prosecution Alleges Organised Liquor Network

According to the prosecution, Dangi headed an organised network involved in procuring and transporting liquor across state borders.

Investigators alleged that vehicles carrying the liquor were fitted with fraudulent registration plates to avoid detection while entering Gujarat. The consignments were subsequently distributed to bootleggers operating across different districts.

The prosecution also relied on UPI transaction records and WhatsApp call logs, which it said indicated Dangi's involvement in the network and his financial interests in liquor dealerships in Rajasthan.

Defence Seeks Bail on Parity Grounds

Dangi's defence sought bail on several grounds, including parity with co-accused Mansingh Meena, who had previously been granted bail by the Gujarat High Court.

The defence also argued that the investigation had been completed and the chargesheet had been filed. It further submitted that Dangi had been acquitted in several previous cases.

Prosecution Points to Criminal Record

The prosecution opposed the bail application by highlighting Dangi's alleged criminal antecedents.

According to the prosecution, 47 prohibition cases have been registered against him across Gujarat. He also faces 12 excise offences in Rajasthan and eight other serious criminal cases involving allegations including robbery, murder, kidnapping and extortion.

The prosecution argued that his alleged role in the present case, along with his criminal antecedents, warranted rejection of the bail plea.

Court Rejects Parity Argument

The court did not accept the defence's argument that Dangi should receive bail on the same basis as the co-accused.

It observed that Dangi's alleged role in the criminal network and his criminal background were substantially different from those of the co-accused.

The court also noted that there had been no material change in circumstances since Dangi's previous bail application was rejected in December 2025.

On these grounds, the Ahmedabad District and Sessions Court (Rural) rejected his successive regular bail application. The allegations against Dangi remain subject to the proceedings before the court.