Gujarat SMC seizes ₹2 crore liquor in 4 raids; 5 arrested, 21 wanted
Synopsis
Gujarat's State Monitoring Cell busted a sprawling inter-state liquor network in a single sweep — four districts, ₹2 crore in IMFL, 36,330 bottles, and accused with dozens of prior cases still on the run. The supply lines reportedly trace back to Haryana and Rajasthan, exposing the organised scale of trafficking into one of India's few prohibition states.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell conducted four raids across Bharuch, Jamnagar, Valsad , and Ahmedabad Rural districts.
A total of 36,330 bottles of IMFL and beer, worth over ₹2 crore , were seized along with multiple vehicles and mobile phones.
Five persons were arrested and 21 others declared wanted across the four cases.
The largest single seizure — ₹1,74,09,200 worth of property — was made in Bharuch on the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway .
Key wanted accused in the Jamnagar case, Ram alias Ramko Modhwadia , has around 49 prior cases registered against him in four districts.
Investigators say multiple consignments were allegedly dispatched from Haryana , pointing to an inter-state supply network.
Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell (SMC) seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) valued at over ₹2 crore in four coordinated raids across Valsad, Ahmedabad Rural, Bharuch, and Jamnagar districts, officials confirmed. A total of 36,330 bottles, multiple vehicles, cash, and mobile phones were recovered, with five persons arrested and 21 others declared wanted.
Bharuch: Largest Single Seizure on Mumbai-Delhi Expressway
The biggest haul was recorded on Sunday in Bharuch district, where the SMC intercepted a consignment on the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway near Khalpiya village under Ankleshwar Rural police station limits. Police Sub-Inspector J.S. Rajput led the operation, recovering around 958 boxes containing 23,460 bottles of IMFL and beer valued at ₹1,43,84,200. A vehicle and two mobile phones were also seized, pushing the total value of recovered property to ₹1,74,09,200.
One person — Anwarsha Mohammad Hanif Belgavkar, a resident of Hubli, Karnataka — was arrested. Five others remain wanted, including a person identified only as Sheth, who allegedly dispatched the consignment from Haryana, and Sikandar Sheikh of Hubli. Investigators also seek the individual who allegedly ordered the consignment and the truck's owner.
Jamnagar: Repeat Offenders Among the Arrested
In Jamnagar, Police Inspector R.K. Karmata raided an open public road in the GIDC area of Naghedi village, seizing around 246 boxes containing 10,409 bottles of IMFL and beer valued at ₹37,21,848. Five vehicles, four mobile phones, cash, and other items brought the total seized property value to ₹1,37,58,491.
Two persons were arrested: Dipak alias Atapatu Jethwani of Jamnagar and Yuvrajsinh Chudasama of Naghedi. According to police, around 22 liquor transportation cases have previously been registered against Jethwani across Jamnagar, Kutch, Morbi, and Rajkot Rural districts. Chudasama faces three prior cases in Jamnagar and Rajkot City and is wanted in a case at DCB Police Station, Rajkot City.
Nine others were declared wanted in the Jamnagar case, including Ram alias Ramko Modhwadia — against whom around 49 cases have been registered across four districts — along with Kana Modhwadia, Irfan Kasam Kateliya, Jignesh alias Jigo Vinod Khichda, Aspak of Nuh, Haryana, and Rahul Razaq of Bharatpur, Rajasthan.
Ahmedabad Rural and Valsad Raids
In Ahmedabad Rural, Police Inspector Y.J. Rathod led a raid at Chitrakut Society in Kolat village, Sanand taluka, seizing around 35 boxes containing 410 bottles of IMFL and beer valued at ₹13,36,064. One vehicle and two mobile phones were also recovered, bringing the total seized property value to ₹14,26,064. Kunj Patel of Bodakdev, Ahmedabad was arrested; five others, including Arvindbhai Chhaganbhai Patel of Bodakdev and an individual who allegedly sent the consignment from Haryana, remain wanted.
In Valsad, Police Inspector A.Y. Baloch conducted a raid at Chokifaliya in Kalsargam, Pardi taluka, recovering around 60 boxes containing 2,051 bottles of IMFL and beer valued at ₹5,90,784. Ten vehicles and two mobile phones were also seized, taking the total to ₹19,86,284. Sanjay alias Sanjay Bhayo Singh, a resident of Udvada, Valsad and originally from Ara district, Bihar, was arrested. Two female accused received notices, while Bipin Patel of Daman, Kapil Bhandari of Orwad, Pardi, and Kunal Patel were declared wanted.
Inter-State Network Under the Scanner
Notably, multiple seizures point to supply chains originating in Haryana and Rajasthan — a recurring pattern in Gujarat's dry-state enforcement record. Cases have been registered against all accused under relevant sections of law, and investigations are ongoing. The SMC's multi-district sweep underscores the scale of organised liquor trafficking that Gujarat — one of India's few prohibition states — continues to grapple with.
Point of View
One that sporadic enforcement raids alone are unlikely to dismantle. The real test for the SMC is whether these arrests translate into prosecutions and disrupted networks, not just headline seizure numbers.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Gujarat Police seize in the four liquor raids?
Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell seized 36,330 bottles of IMFL and beer valued at over ₹2 crore across raids in Bharuch, Jamnagar, Valsad, and Ahmedabad Rural districts. Multiple vehicles, mobile phones, and cash were also recovered in the operations.
Where was the biggest liquor seizure made in Gujarat?
The largest single haul was made in Bharuch district on the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway near Khalpiya village, where around 23,460 bottles valued at ₹1,43,84,200 were seized. Total property recovered in that single raid, including a vehicle and mobile phones, was valued at ₹1,74,09,200.
Who was arrested in the Gujarat liquor raids?
Five persons were arrested: Anwarsha Mohammad Hanif Belgavkar in Bharuch; Dipak alias Atapatu Jethwani and Yuvrajsinh Chudasama in Jamnagar; Kunj Patel in Ahmedabad Rural; and Sanjay alias Sanjay Bhayo Singh in Valsad. A total of 21 others were declared wanted across the four cases.
Why is Gujarat particularly vulnerable to liquor trafficking?
Gujarat is one of India's few states where alcohol prohibition is in force, which creates a significant price arbitrage with neighbouring states. This has historically incentivised organised smuggling networks, with multiple accused in the current cases linked to alleged supply chains from Haryana and Rajasthan.
What is the status of the investigation?
Cases have been registered against all accused under relevant sections of law, and investigations are described as ongoing. Twenty-one accused remain wanted, and police say notices have been issued to two female accused in the Valsad case.
