Ahmedabad, August 25: Following the tragic deaths of 13 individuals from toxic alcohol in Bhavnagar district, authorities in Gujarat have intensified their crackdown on illegal liquor. As part of this initiative, the Ahmedabad city police registered 436 prohibition cases and arrested 476 individuals during a four-day special operation.
This operation took place from August 18 to 21, under the direction of Director General of Police (DGP) G.S. Malik. Its primary goal was to curb activities related to illegal alcohol in the state.
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot stated that various police stations and crime branch teams participated in this operation.
Of the 436 cases filed, 73 were related to foreign liquor, with three categorized as serious offenses. The police seized 11,479 bottles of foreign liquor and beer, valued at ₹29.93 lakh. The total estimated value of the seized assets in these cases is ₹80.56 lakh.
Additionally, the police registered 336 cases related to local liquor, confiscating 3,693 liters valued at approximately ₹7.38 lakh. The total value of the seized property in these cases is reported to be ₹8.43 lakh.
Authorities also took action against seven individuals allegedly involved in the illegal liquor trade under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act, sending them to jail. The Solapur police seized 2,762 bottles of foreign liquor and beer, worth ₹5.05 lakh, along with a car valued at ₹4.5 lakh, implicating four individuals in this case.
The Sabarmati police confiscated 1,740 bottles and cash, filing a case against one person. Meanwhile, the Naroda police seized 3,840 bottles valued at ₹12.61 lakh, a car worth ₹10 lakh, mobile phones, and cash, implicating four individuals.
This crackdown coincides with ongoing investigations into the Bhavnagar toxic alcohol incident, which has claimed 13 lives as of August 23. Tragically, Mukesh Damor (36) and Bhargav Upadhyay (42) also succumbed to their injuries during treatment, while three others continue to receive care.
According to police, the alcohol involved contained methanol. Investigations revealed that the toxic liquor was sold in bottles resembling popular brands like ‘Royal Stag.’
In the Bhavnagar case, police have filed FIRs against 21 suspects, with 27 arrests made during the investigation. Authorities are also probing how the raw materials for the toxic alcohol were sourced from Madhya Pradesh and neighboring states, as well as the distribution network in Bhavnagar and surrounding villages.
Commissioner Gehlot emphasized that this operation is not limited to just four days. He noted that Ahmedabad police have ramped up actions against anti-social elements, with approximately 41 individuals targeted in the last ten days.
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