Rajkot liquor haul: Gujarat Police seize ₹86.63 lakh IMFL, 8 booked
Synopsis
Gujarat's State Monitoring Cell intercepted over 21,000 bottles of IMFL and beer worth ₹86.63 lakh near Rajkot on Monday in a crackdown ordered by DGP G.S. Malik — with the inter-state trail of accused stretching to Rajasthan and Chandigarh, pointing to an organised supply network in a state where alcohol is completely banned.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat Police's SMC seized 21,792 bottles (604 boxes) of IMFL and beer worth ₹86.63 lakh near Rajkot on 21 September 2026 .
Total value of seized property — liquor, vehicle, and other material — stood at ₹1,10,91,012 .
A case was filed under the Prohibition Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 ; eight persons named as accused.
Dilipsinh Rawat of Beawar, Rajasthan, has been arrested; seven accused remain at large with links to Rajasthan and Chandigarh.
The raid followed a state-wide directive by DGP G.S.
Malik to act against illegal liquor and gambling.
Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell (SMC) seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and beer worth ₹86.63 lakh during a raid near the Ahmedabad-Rajkot Highway in Rajkot on Monday, 21 September 2026, with the total value of recovered liquor, vehicle, and other material estimated at ₹1.10 crore, officials said. The operation targeted illegal liquor movement in a prohibition state, resulting in eight persons being named as accused.
How the Raid Unfolded
The SMC team, led by Police Inspector P.B. Jebaliya, carried out the raid near Radhe-Krishna Hotel, close to Bamanbhor village, within the jurisdiction of Airport Police Station in Rajkot. The team intercepted and seized approximately 604 boxes of IMFL and beer, containing a total of 21,792 bottles, valued at ₹86,63,712. One vehicle and associated material were also recovered, taking the combined value of seized property to ₹1,10,91,012.
Legal Action and Charges Filed
A case was registered at Airport Police Station under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2), and 116(B) of the Prohibition Act, along with Sections 336(2), 336(3), and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The action followed directions issued by Director General of Police (DGP) G.S. Malik to crack down on illegal liquor and gambling activities across Gujarat.
One Arrested, Seven Wanted
Of the eight accused named in the case, one has been arrested and seven remain wanted. The arrested individual has been identified as Dilipsinh Rawat, a resident of Sobiyana village in Beawar, Rajasthan. Among those still at large is Jitendrasinh Singh, a resident of Thikarwas Kalan in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district, along with a truck owner identified only as Suresh and an unidentified associate of Jitendrasinh reportedly based in Chandigarh. Three more unidentified persons — one allegedly involved in loading the liquor, one who arrived on a motorcycle carrying a transport slip, and one who reportedly ordered the consignment in Rajkot — have also been named.
Broader Context and Investigation
Gujarat enforces a complete prohibition on alcohol, making illegal liquor networks a persistent law enforcement challenge. This seizure is part of a wider crackdown directive from DGP Malik, signalling intensified state-level monitoring of supply chains that reportedly span Rajasthan and beyond. The inter-state angle — with accused persons linked to Rajasthan and Chandigarh — points to organised trafficking rather than isolated local activity. Further investigation into the broader network and the seven wanted accused is ongoing, according to the State Monitoring Cell.
Point of View
But the geography of the accused tells a more layered story: suspects traced to Rajasthan's Rajsamand district and Chandigarh suggest a supply corridor that begins well outside Gujarat's borders. Gujarat's prohibition regime is one of the country's oldest, yet organised liquor trafficking persists — indicating that demand suppression without border-level surveillance has structural limits. The DGP's public directive signals that the state is raising operational tempo, but the seven wanted accused still at large will test how far that intent translates into inter-state coordination.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Rajkot liquor raid on 21 September 2026?
Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell seized 604 boxes containing 21,792 bottles of IMFL and beer near the Ahmedabad-Rajkot Highway, valued at ₹86.63 lakh. Including the vehicle and other material, the total recovered property was worth ₹1.10 crore.
Who ordered the Gujarat liquor crackdown?
The operation was carried out on directions issued by Director General of Police G.S. Malik to take legal action against illegal liquor and gambling activities across Gujarat. The on-ground raid was led by Police Inspector P.B. Jebaliya.
How many people have been arrested in the Rajkot liquor case?
One person has been arrested — Dilipsinh Rawat, a resident of Sobiyana village in Beawar, Rajasthan. Seven other accused remain wanted, with links to Rajasthan and Chandigarh.
Under which laws was the Rajkot liquor case registered?
The case was registered at Airport Police Station under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2), and 116(B) of the Prohibition Act, and Sections 336(2), 336(3), and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Why is Gujarat a prohibition state?
Gujarat has enforced a complete ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol since 1960, making illegal liquor trafficking a persistent law enforcement challenge. Violations are prosecuted under the state's Prohibition Act, which carries significant penalties.
