Liquor worth ₹30 lakh seized near Kalol, one arrested, six absconding

In another crackdown on illegal liquor trafficking, the Gujarat Police’s State Monitoring Cell (SMC) prohibition team conducted a high-stakes raid on May 3 near the Bharat Petroleum pump along the Godhra-Baroda Highway, close to Alindra village in Kalol taluka of Panchmahal district. The raid led to the seizure of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth over ₹30 lakh and the arrest of one person, with six others currently on the run.

The raid was carried out based on specific intelligence. During the operation, the police confiscated 13,224 bottles of IMFL, estimated to be worth ₹ 30.41 lakh. In addition to the liquor, authorities seized a vehicle valued at ₹15 lakh and a mobile phone worth ₹5,000, bringing the total recovery to ₹ 45.46 lakh

The arrested accused has been identified as Durgaram Bhil, a resident of Barmer district, Rajasthan. Meanwhile, six individuals have been declared absconding and are actively being pursued.

The absconding accused include Bhagatsingh, a listed bootlegger from Rajasthan who allegedly supplied the liquor consignment, and Mahohbatsinh Chauhan of Kalol, suspected of placing the order. Two unidentified individuals travelling in a white car without a number plate are believed to have piloted the truck carrying Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), while another is accused of aiding the driver’s escape. Additionally, the owner of the truck used in transporting the contraband, and a person using a Malaysian mobile number suspected of having arranged the vehicle, are also under investigation

The accused and seized materials have been handed over to the Kalol Police Station for further investigation. Authorities confirmed that Bhagatsingh is a known offender with previous listings related to bootlegging.