Police officials in Gujarat can now auction vehicles seized from bootleggers and smugglers sooner. The state passed the Gujarat Prohibition Amendment Bill 2024 on Day 2 of the ongoing Monsoon session of the state Assembly.

Under the existing law, vehicles impounded in cases of alcohol or drug trafficking cannot be auctioned by the government until the final court verdict. The amendment modifies Sub-section (2) of Section 98 of the law. It now empowers authorities to dispose of such vehicles with the court's permission, even before the final verdict is reached. Officers of the DySP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) level have been named as the “competent authority” for such auctions.

The move is expected to free up space in government parking lots, and serve as an additional source of revenue for the government.

Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi introduced the Bill in the House on Aug 22. He said that there are currently 22,442 such impounded vehicles—worth about ₹300 crore cumulatively—in police parking lots across Gujarat.

“These vehicles are left outside the police station, so they get dusty and rusted and eventually damage national property,” he said.

In the spirit of fairness, any accused who wins their case after the impounded vehicle has been auctioned off will be paid the auction price, plus an interest of 5% per annum, Sanghavi told the House.

The minister later posted on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), that the revenue from the expedited auctions would be “directed towards the betterment of society, supporting various public welfare initiatives”. Swifter auctions would act as a deterrent to bootleggers, his post also said.

Notably, the Gujarat High Court in 2022 directed that impounded vehicles be disposed of within six months if not claimed by an owner or insurance firm by the end of the case.