Liquor permit scam worth ₹50 lakh unearthed at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, three arrested

A major irregularity in the issuance of medical liquor permits has come to light at Civil Hospital, Asarwa, Ahmedabad, raising questions over the enforcement of prohibition laws in Gujarat. Authorities have uncovered a suspected scam involving fake receipts worth ₹50 lakh, with three hospital employees arrested in connection with the case.

The Shahibaug Police stated that liquor permits were allegedly issued without following due legal procedures, under the pretext of medical necessity. Officials found that 257 receipts issued to applicants were fraudulent, with the corresponding payments never deposited into official accounts.

Under existing rules, applicants are required to pay ₹25,000 for a new permit and ₹20,000 for renewal, with all payments to be made online into the Patient Welfare Committee’s bank account. However, in some cases, applicants were issued receipts without the funds being credited to the government, indicating fraud.

Preliminary findings also suggest that ₹1.80 lakh collected from nine applicants was embezzled in a similar manner.

So far, three staff members, including a senior clerk from the hospital’s liquor permit department, have been arrested. 

Following the arrests, the hospital administration conducted an internal inquiry and submitted its report to the police.