Gujarat Police seize ₹63 lakh IMFL in Surendranagar, truck driver held
Synopsis
Gujarat's State Monitoring Cell intercepted a truck trailer in Surendranagar carrying 21,574 bottles of IMFL worth ₹63 lakh — part of an apparent inter-state supply chain linking Haryana to dry Gujarat. With three more accused still at large and a string of similar busts this month, the crackdown signals intensifying enforcement pressure on organised liquor networks operating across state lines.
Key Takeaways
The Gujarat Police SMC seized 21,574 bottles and cans of IMFL worth ₹63,09,300 in Surendranagar district on 24 June .
Total value of all seized property, including the truck trailer, was estimated at ₹93,26,500 .
Truck driver Karansinh Chamar of Fatehabad, Haryana was arrested; three others , including alleged supplier Indrajit Jat , remain wanted.
A case has been filed under the Prohibition Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita .
The bust follows seizures of ₹19 lakh worth of liquor near Gandhinagar on Tuesday and a ₹1.3 crore haul near Ahmedabad's Ramol Toll Naka earlier this month.
The Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell (SMC) seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth more than ₹63 lakh and arrested a truck driver during a prohibition raid in Surendranagar district on Wednesday, 24 June. The operation, conducted at the Hotel Nagaraj compound in Dhedhuki village of Sayla taluka, is among the largest single-haul liquor seizures in the district this month.
What Was Seized
Officers intercepted a truck trailer allegedly being used to ferry liquor and recovered 21,574 bottles and cans of IMFL valued at ₹63,09,300. The consignment included Star Gold Premium Whisky (180 ml), Discount Premium Whisky (180 ml), All Seasons Reserve Whiskey (750 ml), Royal Challenge Premium Deluxe Whisky (750 ml), and Kingfisher Super Strong Premium Beer (500 ml).
Beyond the liquor, police also seized the truck trailer worth ₹30 lakh, two mobile phones worth ₹15,000, two tarpaulins worth ₹2,000, and a rope valued at ₹200. The total estimated value of all seized property stands at ₹93,26,500.
The Accused and Charges Filed
The arrested individual was identified as Karansinh Chamar, a resident of Mehuwala village in Fatehabad district, Haryana, who was allegedly driving the vehicle. He was handed over to the Sayla police station for further investigation.
A case has been registered under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Prohibition Act, along with Sections 111(2)(B), 111(3) and 111(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police have named three other accused as wanted — including Indrajit Jat of Bhattukala, Fatehabad, Haryana, identified as the alleged supplier, an unidentified receiver of the consignment, and the truck's owner.
Part of a Wider Crackdown
The Surendranagar seizure is the latest in a sustained series of prohibition enforcement actions across Gujarat. On Tuesday, authorities seized liquor worth ₹19 lakh from a horse farm near Gandhinagar and arrested four persons in connection with the illegal storage and distribution of alcohol. The premises were allegedly being used to conceal and distribute liquor in violation of the state's prohibition laws.
Earlier this month, the SMC carried out another major operation near Ramol Toll Naka in Ahmedabad, where 19,848 bottles of IMFL worth over ₹1 crore were recovered from a truck. The total value of that seizure, including the vehicle and other materials, was estimated at approximately ₹1.3 crore, and several accused were booked under prohibition laws.
Gujarat's Prohibition Landscape
Gujarat is one of the few states in India that maintains a full prohibition regime. Police and excise authorities routinely conduct operations targeting the illegal transportation, storage, and sale of alcohol. The cross-state nature of the Surendranagar haul — with the driver and alleged supplier both traced to Haryana — points to an organised inter-state supply network that investigators are now working to dismantle. Further investigation is underway to trace the full supply chain and apprehend the remaining accused.
Point of View
Reinforcing a pattern where dry Gujarat is supplied by organised networks operating from neighbouring states. Three major busts in under a month — Surendranagar, Gandhinagar, and Ahmedabad — suggest either a surge in illegal supply or a sharper enforcement focus, possibly both. The real test for Gujarat Police is not the truck-level arrest but whether investigators can follow the chain upstream to the distributors and financiers who keep these networks running. Karansinh Chamar is unlikely to be the last link.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Surendranagar liquor raid?
Gujarat Police seized 21,574 bottles and cans of IMFL worth ₹63,09,300, along with a truck trailer worth ₹30 lakh and other materials, bringing the total seizure value to ₹93,26,500. The consignment included brands such as Royal Challenge Whisky, Star Gold Whisky, and Kingfisher Beer.
Who was arrested in the Surendranagar prohibition raid?
The arrested accused is Karansinh Chamar, a resident of Mehuwala village in Fatehabad district, Haryana, who was allegedly driving the truck trailer. Three others, including alleged supplier Indrajit Jat of Fatehabad, remain wanted.
Under which laws has the case been registered?
The case has been registered under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Prohibition Act, and Sections 111(2)(B), 111(3) and 111(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Is this the only major liquor seizure in Gujarat recently?
No. On Tuesday, authorities seized liquor worth ₹19 lakh from a horse farm near Gandhinagar and arrested four persons. Earlier this month, the SMC recovered 19,848 bottles of IMFL worth over ₹1 crore near Ramol Toll Naka in Ahmedabad, with the total seizure value in that case estimated at ₹1.3 crore.
Why does Gujarat have a prohibition law?
Gujarat is one of the few Indian states that enforces a complete ban on the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol, a policy rooted in the state's historical and cultural ties to Mahatma Gandhi's temperance principles. Police and excise authorities regularly conduct operations to enforce the ban.
