Gujarat bootlegger wanted in 7 cases held after 3 years on the run
Synopsis
A bootlegger with more than 35 prohibition cases to his name — who allegedly kept running his illegal liquor network even while dodging courts for nearly three years — was finally caught at 2.30 am in Ahmedabad. The arrest underlines Gujarat Police's push to pursue listed offenders who exploit residence changes to stay ahead of warrants.
Key Takeaways
Nareshbhai alias Nariyo Rawal , a listed bootlegger from Kolvada village, Gandhinagar , was arrested at 2.30 am on 21 July 2026 .
He was wanted in seven prohibition cases across police stations in Gandhinagar and Banaskantha districts.
More than 35 prohibition cases have been registered against him in Gujarat; he has been declared a listed bootlegger at Pethapur Police Station.
10 criminal cases are currently under trial in district, sessions, and JMFC courts.
An iPhone 17 Pro Max worth ₹45,000 was seized from the accused.
The arrest followed directions from DGP G.S.
Malik to crack down on absconding accused persons alongside illegal liquor activity.
A listed bootlegger wanted in seven prohibition cases across Gujarat was arrested by the State Monitoring Cell in the early hours of 21 July 2026, nearly three years after he first went absconding. Nareshbhai alias Nariyo Rawal, originally a resident of Kolvada village in Gandhinagar district, was traced to a new address in Ahmedabad after he reportedly shifted residence to evade law enforcement.
How the Arrest Unfolded
State Monitoring Cell Police Sub-Inspector V.K. Rathod received specific intelligence that Rawal had relocated to Shantipath Residency, near the Ranasan toll plaza in the Naroda area of Ahmedabad. A team moved on the tip and detained him at 2.30 am on 21 July under Section 35(1)(J) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
The formal arrest was made in connection with a prohibition case registered at Deesa Rural Police Station in Banaskantha district in 2024, under provisions of the Gujarat Prohibition Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code relating to forgery and use of forged documents. An iPhone 17 Pro Max, valued at ₹45,000, was recovered from the accused and seized as part of the investigation.
Scale of the Alleged Criminal Record
According to the State Monitoring Cell, Rawal was wanted across prohibition cases registered at Deesa Rural Police Station, Sector-21 Police Station, Pethapur Police Station, and Kalol Police Station in Gandhinagar district, as well as Palanpur West Police Station in Banaskantha district — cases spanning 2023 to 2026.
Officials alleged that Rawal was involved in procuring consignments of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) from Rajasthan and distributing them to multiple cities and districts across Gujarat. In total, more than 35 prohibition cases have been registered against him in the state, and he has been formally declared a listed bootlegger at Pethapur Police Station. As many as 10 criminal cases — covering prohibition offences and offences against the human body — are currently under trial in various courts, including district, sessions, and JMFC courts.
DGP's Directive Behind the Crackdown
The arrest follows directions from Director General of Police (DGP) G.S. Malik to intensify action not only against illegal liquor, gambling, and other unlawful activities, but specifically against persons who remain at large despite active warrants. Rawal had repeatedly failed to appear before courts, prompting the issuance of arrest warrants, and investigators alleged he continued his bootlegging operations even while absconding.
The accused has been handed over to the State Monitoring Cell for further investigation. With Gujarat's prohibition regime among the strictest in the country, the arrest signals a renewed push to close long-pending cases against listed offenders.
Point of View
Declared a listed bootlegger, and subject to court-issued arrest warrants allegedly continued supplying IMFL across multiple districts for nearly three years unimpeded. That points to a systemic failure in inter-district coordination rather than a lack of legal tools. DGP Malik's directive to specifically pursue absconding accused is a course-correction, but the real test is whether it is applied to the dozens of other listed offenders still at large in the state.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nareshbhai alias Nariyo Rawal?
Nareshbhai alias Nariyo Rawal is a resident of Kolvada village in Gandhinagar district, Gujarat, who has been declared a listed bootlegger at Pethapur Police Station. More than 35 prohibition cases have been registered against him across the state, and he was wanted in seven active cases when arrested.
Where and when was the Gujarat bootlegger arrested?
He was arrested at Shantipath Residency near the Ranasan toll plaza in Naroda, Ahmedabad, at 2.30 am on 21 July 2026. The State Monitoring Cell acted on intelligence that he had changed his residence to evade arrest.
What cases is Nareshbhai Rawal wanted in?
Rawal was wanted in seven prohibition cases registered at Deesa Rural, Sector-21, Pethapur, and Kalol police stations in Gandhinagar district, and Palanpur West Police Station in Banaskantha district, covering the period 2023 to 2026.
What was recovered from the accused?
An iPhone 17 Pro Max mobile phone valued at ₹45,000 was recovered from Rawal and seized as part of the investigation by the State Monitoring Cell.
What is the Gujarat Prohibition Act and why does it apply here?
The Gujarat Prohibition Act bans the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol in Gujarat, one of India's few dry states. Rawal was arrested under this Act along with IPC sections relating to forgery, as he allegedly procured Indian Made Foreign Liquor from Rajasthan and supplied it across Gujarat.
