Gujarat Police seize liquor worth Rs 69 lakh in Valsad and Mehsana; 14 booked

Valsad/Mehsana, July 11 (IANS) The Gujarat Police’s State Monitoring Cell (SMC) has seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth nearly Rs 69 lakh in two separate prohibition raids carried out in Valsad and Mehsana districts, registering cases against a total of 14 accused and recovering liquor and other property valued at more than Rs 1.09 crore, officials said on Saturday.

According to the officials, the operations were conducted following instructions from Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) G.S. Malik to intensify legal action against illegal liquor and gambling activities across the state.

In the first operation, Police Inspector B.P. Desai and his team raided a four-wheeler vehicle near Kundi Bridge on National Highway 48 in the jurisdiction of Dungri Police Station in Valsad district.

The team seized approximately 87 cartons containing 3,025 bottles of Indian-made beer valued at Rs 9,26,051. Including the vehicle and other seized property, the total value of the muddamal recovered was Rs 19,36,051.

Police arrested two persons identified as Ilesh alias Iliyo Patel, a resident of Kocharwa in Vapi taluka, who was allegedly driving the vehicle transporting the liquor, and Kapil alias Sonu Patel of Motiwada in Pardi taluka, who was accompanying him as a cleaner.

A prohibition offence was registered at Dungri Police Station under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Gujarat Prohibition Act.

Police have also named four wanted accused, including alleged supplier Ankur Rani, his associates and the person who allegedly ordered the liquor consignment.

In a separate raid, Police Inspector A.J. Chauhan of the State Monitoring Cell intercepted a vehicle near Ramdev Hotel on Kalyanpur Road close to Vidaj village in Kadi taluka of Mehsana district.

Officers recovered approximately 1,077 cartons containing 25,858 bottles of Indian-made beer worth Rs 59,73,198. The total value of the seized liquor and other property was estimated at Rs 89,95,198.

One person, Hemaram Jat of Dheerasar village in Barmer district of Rajasthan, was arrested. Police said he was driving the vehicle carrying the beer consignment.

A case was registered at Kadi Police Station under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Gujarat Prohibition Act against eight accused, including seven who remain wanted.

Those named include Vijay Jat of Taratra village in Barmer district, who is alleged to have connected the driver with an associate of the main accused, and Ramesh Likharam Jat of Chandi village in Barmer district, who police identified as the principal accused responsible for dispatching the consignment.

Police are also searching for five other accused allegedly linked to the procurement and transportation of the liquor.

The State Monitoring Cell said both cases have been registered and further investigation is underway to trace the remaining accused and establish the wider network involved in the transportation and supply of the prohibited liquor.

–IANS

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