Daijiworld Media Network - Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar, Sep 21: The Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell (SMC) seized Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) and beer worth Rs 45.35 lakh in four separate raids across Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Surendranagar and Surat over the past three days, officials said on Monday.
The total value of liquor, vehicles and other materials seized during the operations exceeded Rs 77 lakh, police said.
In the latest operation, conducted in Ahmedabad on Sunday, September 20, the SMC recovered around 105 boxes containing 5,030 bottles of IMFL and beer valued at Rs 15,58,800.
The raid was carried out near Hanspura Overbridge on Sardar Patel Ring Road, along the public road from Dahegam towards Ahmedabad. Police Sub-Inspector D.A. Tuvar led the operation.
A vehicle and other materials were also seized, taking the total value of the seized property to Rs 30,58,800.
A case was registered at Naroda Police Station against 10 accused, of whom one has been arrested and nine are wanted. The accused have been booked under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83 and 116(B) of the Prohibition Act and Sections 336(2), 336(3) and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The arrested accused was identified as Jitendra alias Jitu Damor (Meena), a resident of Kherwada taluka in Rajasthan's Udaipur district.
The wanted accused include Pravin Damor of Kherwada, Anil Dadu Bharda and Lokesh Patel, besides six others, including the person who allegedly ordered the liquor consignment for delivery to Ahmedabad.
In another operation on Saturday, September 19, the SMC seized around 94 boxes containing 4,326 bottles of IMFL and beer worth Rs 13,03,315 from the parking area of Sahyog Hotel near Chotila in Surendranagar district.
The raid was conducted by PSI D.A. Tuvar along Ahmedabad-Rajkot National Highway 47.
A vehicle was also seized, taking the total value of the seized material to Rs 20,03,315.
A case was registered at Chotila Police Station against four wanted accused under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Prohibition Act.
The accused include the driver and owner or custodian of the four-wheeler allegedly transporting the liquor, the person who sent the foreign liquor consignment and the person who allegedly ordered it.
On September 18, the SMC seized around 91 boxes containing 3,372 bottles of IMFL and beer worth Rs 10,13,544 near D-Mart Circle on Mehsana Bypass Road.
Police Inspector P.P. Brahmbhatt led the raid opposite Osiya Mall.
A vehicle, mobile phone and other materials were also seized, taking the total value of the seized property to Rs 20,43,544.
A case was registered at Mehsana Taluka Police Station against five accused under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Prohibition Act and Sections 111(3)(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Navrang Bhat was arrested in the case, while Anand Raval of Sathiyala and the owner and FASTag holder of the four-wheeler allegedly carrying the liquor were among those named as wanted accused.
In Surat city, the SMC seized around 55 boxes containing 2,143 bottles of IMFL and beer worth Rs 6,59,783 during raids at Singanpor village and a room near Krupa Residency in Dargah Mohalla.
PSI A.G. Enurkar conducted the operation. Two mobile phones, cash and other materials were also seized, taking the total value of the seized property to Rs 6,76,273.
Two accused, Rahul Vamanrao Lakdu (Ahire) and Shubham Kashyap, were arrested.
Divyaben alias Dipu Patil, Jitubhai Patil and the persons who allegedly supplied the foreign liquor were named as wanted accused.
The State Monitoring Cell said the raids were carried out following directions from Director General of Police (DGP) G.S. Malik to take legal action against illegal liquor and gambling activities across the state.