Bootlegger Anil Pandya held in Dubai after months-long probe into Gujarat liquor smuggling network

A key figure allegedly behind one of Gujarat’s largest alcohol smuggling operations has been taken into custody in Dubai after months of investigation by Indian agencies. Anil Pandya, a bootlegger from Rajasthan accused of running a multi-crore liquor network in a prohibition state, was living abroad under a false identity and using forged travel documents, officials said.

Pandya is wanted in dozens of cases related to alcohol smuggling in Gujarat. In Rajasthan, where he hails from, police records list more than 50 cases against him, including murder, extortion and other serious offences. He is expected to be extradited to India under an existing treaty, after which a special squad led by the Director General of Police (DGP) will begin a detailed interrogation.

Long-standing cases in Gujarat and Rajasthan

According to investigators, Pandya, also known as Jagdish Prasad Jat, is a native of Rupnagar in Rajasthan. While based in Dubai, he is alleged to have coordinated a cross-border network linking Rajasthan and Gujarat to move large consignments of alcohol into the state, where prohibition has been in force for decades.

Gujarat Police had announced a reward of ₹1 lakh for information leading to his arrest. Despite this, Pandya managed to evade capture for several years, investigators said, by operating remotely and using intermediaries on the ground.

In Rajasthan alone, police records cite 39 cases against him, including charges of murder, attempted murder, extortion, arms trafficking, organised gang activity and violations under the Explosives Act. Officials allege that the proceeds from liquor smuggling in Gujarat ran into crores of rupees annually.

Associate arrested earlier, network ran remotely

Ten months ago, one of Pandya’s close associates, Taufiq Nazir Khan, who allegedly handled operations within Gujarat, was deported from Dubai and arrested in Kerala. Despite this setback, Pandya is believed to have continued overseeing the network from abroad, directing the movement of alcohol through trusted members of his gang.

Investigators say the network operated across multiple regions of Gujarat, including Kutch and Saurashtra, using logistical tactics designed to confuse enforcement agencies.

Smuggling tactics to evade enforcement

Police sources say Pandya’s gang frequently dispatched three trucks or tankers carrying alcohol from the same batch number across different routes and borders at the same time. The strategy was intended to overwhelm and confuse authorities. Even if one vehicle was intercepted, the remaining consignments could reach their destinations.

Such methods, investigators say, made it difficult for local police units to track and seize the contraband consistently.

Allegations of political links and official complicity

The case has also revived concerns about alleged political protection extended to bootlegging networks. The report notes claims that during elections, bootleggers are sometimes relied upon to fund expensive campaigns, creating reluctance within the system to act decisively. Pandya is reported to have maintained such links, enabling him to operate for years despite his criminal record.

In July 2025, Vadodara rural police exposed the alleged involvement of a DGP squad head constable, Sajan Ahir, who was accused of helping alcohol-laden vehicles bypass checks. Audio recordings that surfaced at the time allegedly pointed to Pandya’s influence. The officer was subsequently suspended, booked and arrested.

Focus now on revelations from interrogation

With Pandya now in custody in Dubai, law enforcement agencies are awaiting his extradition and are closely watching what further details may emerge from his interrogation. Officials believe the investigation could shed light on the scale of the liquor smuggling network, its financial channels and any institutional or political links that allowed it to function over such a long period.