SMC seizes liquor worth ₹75.86 lakh in prohibition raid in Mahesana, two held

In a major prohibition raid, the State Monitoring Cell (SMC) seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth ₹75.86 lakh from a container on the Sanand–Kadi road near Shedfa village in Kadi taluka of Mahesana district.

Two persons have been arrested in connection with the case, while five others have been declared wanted.

According to officials, the raid was carried out on March 5 under the Prohibition Act sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. A total of IMFL bottles worth ₹75,86,800 were recovered during the operation.

Police also seized one vehicle worth ₹15 lakh, two mobile phones worth ₹10,000 and other muddamal items including covering shoes worth ₹1.8 lakh. The total value of seized muddamal in the case stands at ₹92,76,800.

The seized liquor was manufactured and marketed by United Spirits Ltd at Chandigarh Distillers and Bottlers Ltd, Mohali, Punjab, and Pernod Ricard India Pvt Ltd at Saidpura Haripur Hinduam in Punjab.

The arrested accused have been identified as Jashvant Baldevraj Pal, a resident of Gurdaspur district of Punjab, and Jobanprit Gurudev Singh, a resident of Patti taluka of Tarn Taran district, Punjab. Both accused have been handed over to Bavlu Police Station in Mahesana for further investigation.

Police said five persons are currently wanted in the case, including Gaurav and his father, both residents of Punjab who are suspected to be suppliers of the liquor, Gurbajsing alias Sona Singh from Amritsar, the owner of a mobile number linked to the consignment, and the owner of the Tata container bearing registration number from Nadiad.

The raid was conducted by a team led by PSI RG Vasava of the State Monitoring Cell. Further investigation into the liquor supply network is underway.