Gujarat SMC seizes ₹1.51 crore liquor near Rajkot, truck driver arrested
Synopsis
A ₹1.51 crore liquor haul on NH-27 near Rajkot — 41,580 bottles allegedly sourced from four states — has exposed a coordinated smuggling network that reportedly used a UK-registered virtual number to place orders. With multiple recent busts pointing to a Rajasthan-Gujarat supply corridor, enforcement agencies are under pressure to dismantle the network at its source.
Key Takeaways
The Gujarat SMC seized 41,580 bottles of IMFL worth ₹1,51,29,600 on 8 June near Bharudi Toll Plaza, Rajkot .
Total value of all seized property, including the truck, is estimated at ₹1,81,59,000 .
Arrested accused Bhuraram Saran is a resident of Balotra district, Rajasthan .
Four more accused are wanted, including an unidentified individual who allegedly used a UK-code virtual mobile number to order the consignment.
The liquor was allegedly sourced from distilleries in Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab , and Rajasthan .
Multiple recent seizures across Gujarat point to an active Rajasthan-Gujarat smuggling corridor .
The Gujarat State Monitoring Cell (SMC) seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth ₹1.51 crore and arrested a truck driver after intercepting a consignment on National Highway 27 near Bharudi Toll Plaza in Rajkot district on Monday, 8 June, officials said. The haul is among the largest single liquor seizures reported in Gujarat in recent weeks, underscoring the scale of inter-state smuggling into the prohibition state.
The Seizure: Scale and Composition
The intercepted consignment comprised 1,154 boxes containing 41,580 bottles of IMFL, valued at ₹1,51,29,600. The liquor was allegedly manufactured by distilleries in Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Alongside the bottles, authorities also seized a truck worth ₹30 lakh, a mobile phone valued at ₹5,000, cash of ₹3,600, and other materials worth ₹20,800. The total value of all seized property is estimated at ₹1,81,59,000.
Raid Details and Arrests
The operation was conducted near Bharudi village in Gondal taluka by an SMC team led by Police Sub-Inspector V.N. Jadeja and Inspector R.K. Karamata. The arrested accused, Bhuraram Saran, a resident of Hodu village in Rajasthan's Balotra district, was reportedly driving the truck used to transport the consignment into Gujarat. A case has been registered at Gondal Taluka Police Station under provisions of the Gujarat Prohibition Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Four More Accused Named as Wanted
Police have identified four additional accused in the case. They include alleged liquor supplier Khemaram Beniwal of Balotra district; truck owner Ramnivas alias Ramlal Multanaram of Rajasthan's Peelwa area; Sunil Multanaram, also from Peelwa; and an unidentified individual who allegedly used a virtual mobile number registered under a United Kingdom country code to place the liquor order. The use of a foreign virtual number points to a coordinated smuggling network, according to investigators.
Pattern of Enforcement: Recent Seizures Across Gujarat
This case is part of a broader enforcement surge across the state. In a separate incident, Ahmedabad Customs officials intercepted a boat off the Kolak coast in Valsad district, seizing 555 boxes containing 18,672 bottles of IMFL valued at approximately ₹50 lakh. Eight people were detained and the consignment handed over to local police; the liquor was suspected to have been smuggled from Daman. In yet another case in May, Sola police in Ahmedabad seized liquor worth ₹54.1 lakh hidden beneath sacks of paddy husk in a truck intercepted near Vaishnodevi Bridge on SG Highway. The total seizure value, including the vehicle, was estimated at ₹64.3 lakh, and the truck driver — again from Rajasthan — was arrested. The recurrence of Rajasthan-linked accused across multiple cases suggests a well-established supply corridor into Gujarat's prohibition zone. Authorities are expected to intensify highway surveillance and coordinate with police in neighbouring states as investigations continue.
Point of View
Valsad, and Ahmedabad — each with Rajasthan-linked accused, are not coincidence; they are evidence of a structured supply chain operating across state lines into a prohibition zone. The detail that stands out is the use of a UK-registered virtual number to place the order: it signals that the network has the sophistication to obscure communications, which routine highway interceptions alone will not dismantle. Gujarat's prohibition regime has long been criticised for creating a premium black market rather than suppressing demand. Until enforcement reaches the distilleries, financiers, and communication nodes — not just the truck drivers — the arrests will remain the lowest rung of a larger operation.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Gujarat SMC liquor bust near Rajkot?
The SMC seized 41,580 bottles of IMFL packed in 1,154 boxes, valued at ₹1,51,29,600, on National Highway 27 near Bharudi Toll Plaza in Rajkot district on 8 June. Including the truck and other materials, the total seized property is estimated at ₹1,81,59,000.
Who was arrested in the Rajkot liquor seizure case?
Bhuraram Saran, a resident of Hodu village in Rajasthan's Balotra district, was arrested. He was allegedly driving the truck used to transport the liquor into Gujarat.
Who are the other accused wanted in the case?
Four others are named as wanted: alleged supplier Khemaram Beniwal of Balotra district, truck owner Ramnivas alias Ramlal Multanaram of Peelwa, Rajasthan, Sunil Multanaram also from Peelwa, and an unidentified person who allegedly used a virtual mobile number with a UK country code to place the liquor order.
Where was the liquor allegedly manufactured?
According to officials, the seized IMFL was allegedly produced by distilleries located in Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan before being transported into Gujarat.
What other liquor seizures have taken place in Gujarat recently?
Ahmedabad Customs seized 18,672 bottles worth approximately ₹50 lakh from a boat off Valsad's Kolak coast, suspected to have come from Daman. Separately, Sola police in Ahmedabad seized liquor worth ₹54.1 lakh hidden in a truck on SG Highway in May, with a total seizure value of ₹64.3 lakh including the vehicle.
