₹500 liquor sold for ₹1,200 in Gujarat: Bootlegging thrives amid allegations of police collusion

In yet another sign of Gujarat’s flourishing underground liquor trade, the Vadodara rural police last week intercepted a tanker near Karjan and discovered foreign liquor worth ₹1.77 crore concealed inside. The vehicle was en route to Ahmedabad via the Mumbai–Delhi Expressway. Acting on a tip-off, the police uncovered the hidden consignment—one of the biggest hauls in the region in recent months.

Significantly, Sajan Ahir, a head constable from the State Monitoring Cell—the very agency tasked with curbing bootlegging—was arrested in connection with the case. The development has sparked fresh concerns about possible internal collusion within Gujarat’s enforcement agencies.

Despite crackdowns, smuggling networks operate with impunity

The State Monitoring Cell has reportedly seized illegal liquor worth ₹37 crore so far this year. However, insiders claim the bootlegging ecosystem continues to thrive under the watch of both the police and political establishment.

According to police sources, liquor sourced from neighbouring states such as Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh is being smuggled into Gujarat using forged documents and invoices. These consignments are transported in trucks, containers, oil tankers, and even private vehicles, with bootleggers employing creative concealment methods to avoid detection.

Two audio clips of conversations between Ahir and a bootlegger have surfaced, along with three additional clips believed to contain operational details of the illicit network. If investigated thoroughly, these could expose links between bootleggers and elements within law enforcement.

Bottles bought for ₹500 sold at triple the price

A bottle of liquor that costs ₹400–₹1,200 at source is sold for ₹1,100–₹3,000 in Gujarat. This price inflation highlights not only the demand but also the protection the trade appears to enjoy. Here’s a breakdown:

Police insiders say liquor produced in distilleries across six states is funnelled into Gujarat using falsified trade documents. Fake invoices in the names of local traders help legitimize the shipments on paper, even as they are sold through illegal distribution networks.

Bootlegging network mirrors corporate structure

The state’s bootlegging operations appear highly structured. Around a dozen major operators—many based outside Gujarat or abroad—manage the supply chain. They are supported by an estimated 200 mid-level agents who oversee movement and distribution.

On the ground, roughly 5,000 delivery agents operate under this network. Many pose as food delivery workers or ride two-wheelers and small cars to deliver bottles directly to customers’ homes. Delivery agents typically earn ₹50–₹100 per bottle, while top-level bootleggers make double profits.

Bribes to law enforcement are reportedly paid at fixed rates, depending on the route and size of the consignment. Even with nine squads under the DGP’s State Monitoring Cell, the extent of internal compromise remains unclear.

Law enforcement credibility under question

The arrest of a Monitoring Cell constable has intensified scrutiny on the very bodies tasked with enforcing prohibition. Critics argue that enforcement actions are largely performative, aimed more at optics than dismantling the supply chains.

While bootleggers operate openly and the money trail grows more visible, authorities appear to be going through the motions. Many point to a lack of political will and an unwillingness to confront the internal rot that allows such networks to flourish.

With Gandhi’s Gujarat increasingly becoming a hub for both liquor and narcotics, the demand for an internal clean-up—starting with the police force—has become louder than ever.