- विज्ञापन -
Ahmedabad: Last week, Gujarat police conducted a late-night raid at the Glade One Resort near Sanand in Ahmedabad district, uncovering a high-profile liquor party believed to be organized as a birthday celebration for real estate businessman Pratik Sanghvi. Acting on a tip-off, authorities detained approximately 42 out of around 100 attendees who were reportedly under the influence of alcohol.
The crowd included individuals from prominent local areas and out-of-state guests, such as residents from Gandhinagar, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, and other regions.
Among those detained, authorities issued notices to 26 young women and released them, while others were taken for medical tests. The operation, which continued into late Sunday night, was carried out under Gujarat’s strict prohibition laws, and charges are expected to be filed as the investigation progresses.
Gujarat, a dry state under the Gujarat Prohibition Act of 1949, bans the sale, purchase, and consumption of alcohol without a permit. Although permits are issued for health reasons and for tourists at licensed venues, violating these regulations can result in imprisonment for up to six months, hefty fines, or more severe penalties for illegal sale or bootlegging.
Despite rigorous enforcement, illegal alcohol consumption remains an issue in the state. In 2024 alone, authorities seized nearly 82 lakh bottles of Indian-made foreign liquor worth Rs 144 crore, with an average seizure every four seconds across key cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Surat.
The State Monitoring Cell registered 455 cases last year, confiscating liquor worth Rs 22.52 crore, with Ahmedabad accounting for Rs 61 lakh of that total.
Recent amendments in legislation, introduced in August 2024, give authorities the power to seize and auction vehicles involved in liquor smuggling without waiting for court rulings, with provisions for compensation if the accused are later acquitted.
Large-scale seizures continue to highlight the extent and complexity of illegal liquor operations, including the confiscation of thousands of bottles and litres across various districts, and even a case involving a suspended police constable found in possession of over 1,000 liquor bottles valued at Rs 1.76 lakh in Aravalli district.
