Vejalpur police turn party poopers, 10 booked for liquor consumption at birthday celebrations

A late-night birthday celebration at a residential apartment in Vejalpur turned into a police case after officers raided the premises and found a group of youngsters allegedly consuming foreign liquor without the mandatory permit, officials said on Monday.

According to Vejalpur police, the incident took place in the early hours of April 12 at a flat in Srinandnagar on Sonal Road. Head Constable Vijaybhai Shankarbhai, who filed the complaint, stated that a Police Control Room (PCR) team received information around 2.01 am about a disturbance caused by individuals reportedly under the influence of alcohol.

Acting on the tip-off, the police team, along with panch witnesses, reached Flat No. F/308 in Srinandnagar. Upon knocking, the door was opened from inside, and officers found a group of men and women seated in a circle, with liquor bottles, beer cans and drinking glasses scattered across the room.

Police said several empty and partially consumed bottles of Indian-made foreign liquor and beer were recovered from the spot, along with a small quantity of sealed liquor. The individuals present were allegedly in an intoxicated condition and unable to maintain proper posture, officials said.

During questioning, the tenant of the flat, identified as a 35-year-old woman originally from Nagaland, told police that she had organised the gathering to celebrate her birthday and had invited friends to the party. She allegedly admitted that liquor had been arranged through an acquaintance, who is yet to be apprehended.

The police identified a total of 10 individuals present at the party, including residents of Ahmedabad as well as persons hailing from Rajasthan, Nagaland and Assam. Mobile phones belonging to some of the accused were seized as part of the investigation.

Police said that none of the individuals present could produce a valid permit for consumption of alcohol, which is mandatory under Gujarat’s prohibition laws.

Police have registered an offence under relevant provisions of the Gujarat Prohibition Act, including sections pertaining to unlawful possession and consumption of liquor, as well as abetment.

Officials said liquor bottles, beer cans and other items found at the scene, collectively valued at over ₹1 lakh along with seized mobile phones, have been taken into custody as evidence.

Further investigation is under way to trace the source of the liquor supply and ascertain whether any larger network is involved, police added.