Gujarat cop held for ₹5,000 bribe to allow illegal liquor trade in Amreli
Synopsis
A Gujarat police officer allegedly turned Gujarat's own prohibition law into a personal revenue stream — pressuring a former liquor seller to restart the trade and pay ₹5,000 for the privilege. The ACB's sting in Amreli caught him in the act, raising fresh questions about enforcement integrity in a dry state.
Key Takeaways
ASI Shyam Bagda , 39 , of Savarkundla Rural Police Station was arrested on 20 August by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) .
Bagda allegedly demanded ₹10,000 from a complainant to allow him to restart an illegal country liquor business, later reduced to ₹5,000 .
The complainant reported the matter via ACB toll-free number 1064 and lodged a formal complaint.
The sting was conducted near Oliyā village , Savarkundla taluka , Amreli district ; the bribe amount was recovered on the spot.
The operation was led by T.S.
Rizvi , in-charge police inspector, Amreli ACB Police Station.
An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) posted at Savarkundla Rural Police Station in Amreli district, Gujarat, was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on 20 August after allegedly accepting a ₹5,000 bribe to permit a complainant to resume an illegal country liquor business. The accused, identified as Shyam Bagda, 39, was caught red-handed during a sting operation conducted near Oliyā village in Savarkundla taluka.
How the Complaint Emerged
According to the ACB, the complainant had previously been involved in the sale of country liquor but had ceased the activity. Bagda allegedly pressured him to restart the trade and threatened to implicate him in false cases if he refused. The officer initially demanded ₹10,000, which was reportedly reduced to ₹5,000 following negotiations, the ACB said.
Unwilling to comply, the complainant reached out to the ACB through its toll-free helpline, 1064, and subsequently filed a formal complaint at the Amreli ACB Police Station.
The Sting Operation
Acting on the complaint, the ACB arranged a trap on 20 August. The operation was conducted near the entrance of a farm belonging to Javerbhai Patel, on an unpaved road leading towards Nesdi, within Oliyā village in Savarkundla taluka. During the trap, Bagda allegedly demanded and accepted the ₹5,000 from the complainant, at which point ACB personnel moved in and detained him on the spot.
The ₹5,000 allegedly accepted by the accused was recovered during the operation, the ACB confirmed. The trap was led by T.S. Rizvi, in-charge police inspector at the Amreli ACB Police Station, along with bureau personnel.
Charges and Allegations
The ACB alleged that Bagda misused his official position in connection with the demand and acceptance of the bribe. Gujarat is a prohibition state, making the sale and consumption of alcohol illegal under the Gujarat Prohibition Act. Cases where law enforcement personnel allegedly exploit that prohibition to extract payments from those involved in the illicit liquor trade have drawn recurring scrutiny from the ACB.
What Happens Next
Bagda faces charges under the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The ACB is expected to present him before a court in Amreli. The bureau has not indicated whether further individuals connected to the case are under investigation.
Point of View
The legal ban on liquor gives unscrupulous officers leverage over those in the trade — threatening false cases becomes a reliable extortion tool. The ACB's use of the public toll-free line here is significant; it shows the tip-off mechanism working as intended. But individual arrests matter less than whether the ACB investigates whether Bagda's alleged conduct was isolated or part of a pattern at Savarkundla Rural Police Station. Gujarat's prohibition regime will only retain credibility if the enforcers themselves are held to the same standard as the violators.
NationPress
21 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Amreli ACB bribe case?
Shyam Bagda , a 39 -year-old Assistant Sub-Inspector posted at Savarkundla Rural Police Station in Amreli district, Gujarat, was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau on 20 August for allegedly accepting a ₹5,000 bribe.
What was the bribe demanded for?
According to the ACB, Bagda allegedly pressured a complainant — who had previously sold country liquor but stopped — to resume the illegal trade. He allegedly demanded ₹10,000 , later negotiated down to ₹5,000 , in exchange for allowing the business to restart and to avoid being implicated in false cases.
How did the Anti-Corruption Bureau catch the accused?
The complainant contacted the ACB via its toll-free number 1064 and filed a formal complaint. The ACB arranged a sting operation on 20 August near Oliyā village in Savarkundla taluka, during which Bagda allegedly accepted the cash and was caught on the spot by ACB personnel led by inspector T.S. Rizvi .
What charges does Shyam Bagda face?
Bagda faces charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly misusing his official position to demand and accept a bribe. He is expected to be presented before a court in Amreli.
Why is this case significant in Gujarat?
Gujarat is a prohibition state where the sale and consumption of alcohol is banned under the Gujarat Prohibition Act . Cases of police personnel allegedly exploiting the prohibition to extort payments from those in the illicit liquor trade have drawn repeated scrutiny, making this arrest a test of the ACB's enforcement credibility.
