Man held with e-cigarettes, liquor bottle during vehicle check on Sindhu Bhavan Road, Mercedes seized

A 28-year-old man was detained by Bodakdev police during a late-night vehicle checking drive on Sindhu Bhavan Road in Ahmedabad after officers allegedly recovered e-cigarettes and a bottle of liquor from his car in violation of prohibition laws, officials said.

The incident took place on March 17 between 10 pm and 11.40 pm near Gotila Garden on Sindhu Bhavan Road, where police teams had set up a checkpoint following instructions from senior officers of Zone-7.

According to police, the accused, identified as Aman alias Amanbhai Harishbhai Somani, a resident of Shela, was intercepted while driving a black Mercedes C43 car.

Police said the vehicle was stopped for routine inspection while it was travelling from Pakwan Crossroads towards Gotila Garden.

During the search, officers allegedly found two electronic cigarette (vape) devices in the dashboard compartment of the car. The devices, branded and flavoured, were collectively valued at  ₹2,000.

In addition, a 200 ml bottle of what appeared to be imported liquor containing approximately 60 ml of liquid was recovered. Officials noted that the bottle seal was broken and that possession of liquor without a valid permit constitutes an offence under Gujarat’s prohibition laws.

“The accused could not produce any valid permit for possession of liquor, and the e-cigarettes are banned under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act,” a police officer said.

The police seized the contraband items along with the vehicle, which is estimated to be worth ₹12 lakh. The total value of the seized property has been pegged at ₹12.02 lakh.

During questioning, the accused reportedly told police that he had brought the e-cigarettes from abroad earlier this year.

A case has been registered under sections of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019, along with relevant provisions of the Gujarat Prohibition Act.