Liquor worth ₹39 lakh seized in Chhotaudepur, two arrested

In a major crackdown on illegal liquor trade, the State Monitoring Cell (SMC) of Gujarat Police conducted a prohibition raid in Chhotaudepur district and seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), country liquor and vehicles collectively worth over ₹39 lakh.

The raid was carried out on the intervening night of May 21 and 22 at the houses of Gemlabhai Ramatiyabhai Rathwa and Sukhiyabhai Ramatiyabhai Rathwa in Nishal Faliyu of Shiloj village under Zoz police station limits in Chhotaudepur district.

According to police, the operation was conducted under sections of the Gujarat Prohibition Act.

During the search operation, police seized 9,117 bottles and tins of IMFL valued at ₹22.01 lakh, 105 litres of country liquor worth ₹21,000, and 6,200 litres of wash valued at ₹1.55 lakh. Seven vehicles worth ₹15.50 lakh and one mobile phone valued at ₹10,000 were also confiscated.

The total value of the seized muddamal was estimated at ₹39.37 lakh.

Police arrested two accused, Gemlabhai Ramatiyabhai Rathwa and Sukhiyabhai Ramatiyabhai Rathwa, both residents of Shiloj village in Chhotaudepur district, and handed them over to Zoz police station for further legal action.

Officials said eight other accused have been declared wanted in the case. The wanted persons allegedly include suppliers of IMFL from Madhya Pradesh and local receivers involved in the distribution network across Chhotaudepur and neighbouring districts.

The wanted accused have been identified as Mukesh Dhakapura, Arvind Manzala Tokariya, Hari Rathwa, Surendrasinh Chauhan, Tino Kadwabhai Rathwa, Vinu Kadwabhai Rathwa, Dipu Rathwa and Manula Udesinh Rathwa.

Police said further investigation is under way to trace the supply chain and identify other persons involved in the illegal liquor network.