Botad, June 20, 2026
The Gujarat State Monitoring Cell (SMC) on Saturday seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) valued at around Rs 40.73 lakh during a prohibition raid in Botad district, while six accused have been declared wanted in connection with the case.
According to the SMC, the raid was carried out near Anida village on the Sanjavadar Road in Gadhada taluka of Botad district.
The operation was conducted on premises allegedly linked to Vikram Goletar and falls under the jurisdiction of Dhasa Police Station.
Police said they recovered 12,768 bottles of IMFL valued at Rs 40,73,872. Officers also seized one vehicle worth Rs 15 lakh. The total value of the seized property, including the liquor, vehicle and other materials, has been estimated at Rs 55,97,072.
A case has been registered under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Gujarat Prohibition Act, along with Sections 111(2)(B) and 111(3)(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The SMC has named six wanted accused: Vikram Goletar, Pravin Rathod, the driver of a truck, the vehicle’s cleaner, the owner of the truck and an unidentified supplier of the liquor.
Police said all six accused are currently absconding. The case has been marked as a listed offence, and further investigation is underway.
The seizure is the latest in a series of major prohibition enforcement actions in Gujarat. Earlier this month, an SMC team seized liquor worth Rs 1.51 crore near Bharudi village in Gondal taluka of Rajkot district.
Authorities recovered 41,580 bottles of IMFL from a truck and registered a case under the Gujarat Prohibition Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The total value of the seized property, including the vehicle and other materials, was estimated at Rs 1.81 crore.
In another significant operation near Halenda village on the Rajkot–Bhavnagar highway, the SMC seized 5,280 bottles of IMFL worth more than Rs 63 lakh from a truck parked at a hotel.
Police also confiscated the vehicle and other goods, taking the total value of the seizure to more than Rs 97 lakh. No arrests were reported in that case.
The latest operation adds to ongoing efforts by enforcement agencies to curb the illegal transportation and distribution of liquor in Gujarat, where prohibition laws remain in force.(Agency)
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