Today, the Botad local crime branch (LCB) seized a truck of liquor bottles on the Dhandhuka-Barwala highway, along with valuables such as mobile phones worth totalling an approx ₹27.93 lakh.

According to reports, the consignment was smuggled to Gujarat by two bootleggers from Refda and Khambhada villages, who were going to share the liquor later.

Reportedly, the foreign liquor consignment was ordered from Rajasthan. Botad LCB conducted a raid based on a tip-off. 

The bootleggers were going to cut their share near Bhimnath village, says sources. 

The LCB found the truck (MH 14 EM 6138) parked opposite a petrol pump.

When the LCB arrived at the location, one of the men escaped through the door on the cleaner’s side.

An accused named Shivku Karpada, 41, (from Barwala) has been detained. The truck was carrying 5,940 bottles (worth ₹17,82,000) of IMFL (Indian-made foreign liquor). The crime branch also seized valuables worth ₹27,93,000.

Interrogation of arrested accused

Shivku Karpada, confessed that the consignment was ordered from a Shaitan Singh Marwari, a resident of Sanchore, Jhalor district of Rajasthan, in partnership with Hitendra alias Munna Khachar (of Barwala) and the person who fled upon seeing the police was Suresh Potlia, a close aide of Khachar.

LCB’s ASI BG Chavda filed a case against Karpada, Hitendra alias Munna Khachar, Shaitan Singh Marwari, and Suresh Potlia, in Barwala Police under Sections 65(a), 65(e), 116-B, 98(r), and 81 of the Prohibition Act.

Notably, 14 days ago, LCB seized more than ₹50 lakh worth of liquor from Barwala police under the guise of wheat bags.

Stocking up liquor ahead of elections?

As the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 close in, the bootleggers of Botad and Bhavnagar districts are planning to stock a huge quantity of liquor to make moolah by smuggling liquor during the elections, say sources. 

Foreign liquor consignment worth lakhs of rupees has been seized from Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana over the last 15 days in Bhavnagar and Botad districts.

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