Vadodara/Pali: The Vadodara Rural Local Crime Branch (LCB) raided a warehouse within the limits of Kotambi village on the Vadodara-Halol road and seized a large stock of foreign liquor worth over Rs 1.24 crore. From the warehouse of Sainath Enterprise in Shah Industrial Park-3, police recovered 1,490 boxes of liquor containing a total of 66,432 bottles. Goods worth over Rs 1.28 crore in total, including the liquor, a car and mobile phones, were seized. Police arrested four accused from Rajasthan at the spot.
Police arrested Manoharlal Bishnoi of Jalore, Prakash Bishnoi of Sanchore, Dineshkumar Bishnoi of Chitalwana and Praveenkumar Bishnoi of Sedwa in Barmer from the spot. According to police, the LCB team raided the warehouse in Kotambi on a tip-off from an informer. A large stock of liquor was lying there. The seized liquor has been valued at over Rs 1.24 crore. A car worth Rs 4 lakh and seven mobile phones worth Rs 56,000 were also seized.
Police: Liquor Was Ordered From Haryana and Maharashtra
Preliminary investigation has revealed that the stock was ordered from Sumit of Haryana and Pradhanji of Maharashtra to be supplied in Vadodara and nearby areas. According to police, Sunil Harigaram Jat, a resident of Jodhpur who is involved in this network, and Sumit and Pradhanji, who supplied the liquor, were not found at the spot during the raid. Police have registered a case against them as well and begun further investigation.
Liquor Is Banned in Vadodara
Liquor is completely banned (prohibited) in Vadodara. Vadodara is part of Gujarat, which is a complete "dry state". This means that making, selling, buying and consuming liquor is illegal for the general public across the state. For this reason, police treated liquor worth over Rs 1.24 crore as "illegal", seized it and arrested the accused.
Government Has Granted Exemptions Under Certain Special Rules
For tourists: People coming from other states or abroad (travellers) can buy and consume a limited quantity of liquor by obtaining a legal liquor permit from official government hotels or authorised shops.
Health permit: Some permanent residents of the state are given a special permit to buy liquor on health grounds after a doctor's advice and strict medical examination.
GIFT City exemption: The Gujarat government has recently eased the rules on drinking for employees working in Gandhinagar's "GIFT City" and guests visiting there, but this does not apply to Vadodara or other parts of the state.
Possessing or consuming liquor without a valid permit by local residents is a legal offence, which can lead to imprisonment and heavy fines.