Kalyan Crime Branch seizes ₹7.22 lakh illegal liquor in Dombivli, 3 arrested
Synopsis
Maharashtra's Kalyan Crime Branch cracked open a cross-state liquor pipeline: 7,920 sealed bottles allegedly sourced from Diu-Daman and bound for Rajkot were seized from a tin shed in Dombivli East, with three men arrested. The bust points to an organised inter-state network exploiting the union territory's liquor availability to supply dry or restricted markets in Gujarat.
Key Takeaways
Kalyan Crime Branch raided a tin shed in Dombivli East, Thane on 30 September .
Officers recovered 7,920 sealed bottles of liquor worth ₹7,22,700 and 19 plastic pipes .
The consignment was allegedly sourced from Diu-Daman and intended for sale in Rajkot, Gujarat .
Three accused — Hiren Shankarbhai Bakkar , Manish Purushottambhai Dhuker , and Vipul Ramakrishna Shukla — were arrested.
A case has been registered at Tilaknagar Police Station ; investigation into the wider supply network is ongoing.
The Kalyan Crime Branch of Maharashtra Police has busted a suspected illegal liquor consignment in Dombivli East, Thane district, with the seized stock allegedly destined for Rajkot, Gujarat. Police arrested three persons and recovered liquor valued at ₹7.22 lakh during the operation on 30 September.
How the Raid Unfolded
Acting on a tip-off about a large cache of illegally stored liquor, a Crime Branch team raided a tin shed near Shelar Maidan in the Khambalpada area of Dombivli East. Officers recovered 7,920 sealed bottles of liquor spanning multiple brands, collectively valued at ₹7,22,700, along with 19 plastic pipes from the premises.
According to preliminary investigation findings, the liquor had allegedly been sourced from the Diu-Daman region and was being stockpiled at the shed before onward transport to Rajkot for sale.
The Accused
The three individuals taken into custody have been identified as Hiren Shankarbhai Bakkar alias Bhanushali, 30; Manish Purushottambhai Dhuker, 40; and Vipul Ramakrishna Shukla, 22. A case has been registered against all three at Tilaknagar Police Station.
Who Led the Operation
The raid was conducted under the guidance of senior police officials and carried out by a Crime Branch team comprising Senior Police Inspector Ajit Shinde, Assistant Police Inspectors Ganesh Dalvi and S. Patil, Police Sub-Inspector Kiran Bhise, and other personnel.
What Investigators Are Pursuing
The Crime Branch is currently probing the full supply chain — tracing how the liquor was procured, how it was routed through Diu-Daman, and whether additional individuals are linked to the alleged distribution network. This operation forms part of an ongoing campaign by the Thane Police Commissionerate's Crime Branch against illegal liquor storage and sale. Investigators say the inquiry is expected to widen as the network is mapped.
Point of View
As union territories with permissive liquor rules, have long served as staging points for alcohol bound for dry or restricted Gujarat markets — and this case fits that well-worn pattern precisely. What investigators should press on is not just the three arrested men but the logistics layer above them: who arranged the shed, who coordinated the Rajkot end, and whether the 19 seized plastic pipes suggest a repackaging or adulteration operation rather than straightforward resale. The broader campaign by the Thane Commissionerate is commendable, but inter-state liquor smuggling will persist as long as the regulatory asymmetry between Diu-Daman and Gujarat remains unaddressed at the policy level.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Kalyan Crime Branch seize in Dombivli?
The Kalyan Crime Branch seized 7,920 sealed bottles of liquor worth ₹7,22,700 and 19 plastic pipes from a tin shed in Dombivli East, Thane. Three persons were arrested in connection with the haul.
Where was the seized liquor allegedly headed?
According to preliminary investigation, the liquor was allegedly being stored in Dombivli East before being transported to Rajkot in Gujarat for sale. It was reportedly sourced from the Diu-Daman region.
Who were the three persons arrested in the Dombivli liquor case?
The arrested individuals are Hiren Shankarbhai Bakkar alias Bhanushali (30), Manish Purushottambhai Dhuker (40), and Vipul Ramakrishna Shukla (22). A case against them has been registered at Tilaknagar Police Station.
Which police team conducted the Dombivli liquor raid?
The operation was led by a Kalyan Crime Branch team comprising Senior Police Inspector Ajit Shinde , Assistant Police Inspectors Ganesh Dalvi and S. Patil , and Police Sub-Inspector Kiran Bhise , under the guidance of senior officials of the Thane Police Commissionerate.
What is being investigated further in this case?
Investigators are working to establish the complete supply chain — how the liquor was procured from Diu-Daman, how it was transported to Dombivli, and whether other individuals are part of the alleged distribution network bound for Gujarat.
