Gujarat SMC seizes ₹40.73 lakh liquor in Botad, six accused absconding
Synopsis
Gujarat's State Monitoring Cell recovered 12,768 bottles of IMFL worth ₹40.73 lakh from a single location in Botad's Gadhada taluka — part of a pattern of escalating prohibition busts across the state this month, with total seizure values in recent operations running into crores and accused consistently absconding.
Key Takeaways
The Gujarat SMC seized 12,768 IMFL bottles worth ₹40,73,872 near Anida village, Gadhada taluka on 20 June .
A vehicle worth ₹15 lakh was also confiscated; total seized property valued at ₹55,97,072 .
Six accused — including Vikram Goletar and Pravin Rathod — are declared wanted and currently absconding.
Cases filed under the Gujarat Prohibition Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 ; classified as a listed offence.
Earlier this month, the SMC seized liquor worth ₹1.51 crore in Gondal taluka, Rajkot and over ₹63 lakh near the Rajkot–Bhavnagar highway .
The Gujarat State Monitoring Cell (SMC) on Saturday, 20 June seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth approximately ₹40.73 lakh during a prohibition enforcement raid in Botad district, with six accused subsequently declared wanted and currently absconding. The operation marks one of the larger single-location seizures in the district this month.
Details of the Raid
The operation was carried out near Anida village on Sanjavadar Road in Gadhada taluka, on premises reportedly linked to accused Vikram Goletar, falling under the jurisdiction of Dhasa Police Station. Officers recovered 12,768 bottles of IMFL valued at ₹40,73,872, along with one vehicle worth ₹15 lakh. The total estimated value of all seized property — including liquor, the vehicle, and other materials — stands at ₹55,97,072.
Legal Action and Accused
A case has been registered under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Gujarat Prohibition Act, along with Sections 111(2)(B) and 111(3)(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The SMC has named six wanted accused: Vikram Goletar, Pravin Rathod, the truck's driver, the vehicle's cleaner, the truck owner, and an unidentified liquor supplier. All six are currently absconding, and the case has been classified as a listed offence. Further investigation is underway.
Pattern of Prohibition Enforcement in Gujarat
This seizure is the latest in a string of major anti-liquor operations across the state. Earlier this month, an SMC team seized liquor worth ₹1.51 crore near Bharudi village in Gondal taluka of Rajkot district, recovering 41,580 bottles of IMFL from a truck; the total value of seized property in that case was estimated at ₹1.81 crore.
In a separate operation near Halenda village on the Rajkot–Bhavnagar highway, the SMC seized 5,280 bottles of IMFL worth more than ₹63 lakh from a truck parked at a hotel. The total seizure value in that case exceeded ₹97 lakh, though no arrests were reported.
Broader Context
Gujarat has maintained a complete prohibition on alcohol since 1960, making it one of the few Indian states with a blanket ban. Enforcement agencies have intensified crackdowns in recent months, targeting inter-district supply routes and highway transit points. The Botad seizure underscores the persistent challenge of illegal liquor trafficking despite the legal framework, and authorities say the investigation is expected to widen as the absconding accused are traced.
Point of View
Driver, cleaner, truck owner) spread across at least six individuals, all of whom have so far evaded arrest. Gujarat's prohibition enforcement has become operationally sharper at detection, but the near-zero arrest rate in several recent cases points to a persistent gap between seizure and prosecution. Until the absconding accused are apprehended and the supply networks mapped, these operations risk being headline wins without structural impact.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Gujarat SMC raid in Botad on 20 June?
The Gujarat State Monitoring Cell seized 12,768 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) valued at ₹40,73,872, along with a vehicle worth ₹15 lakh, near Anida village in Gadhada taluka. The total value of all seized property was estimated at ₹55,97,072.
Who are the accused in the Botad liquor seizure case?
Six individuals have been named as wanted: Vikram Goletar, Pravin Rathod, the truck's driver, the vehicle's cleaner, the truck owner, and an unidentified liquor supplier. All six are currently absconding, and the case is classified as a listed offence.
Under which laws has the Botad liquor case been registered?
The case has been filed under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2), and 116(B) of the Gujarat Prohibition Act, as well as Sections 111(2)(B) and 111(3)(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Is this an isolated incident or part of a broader crackdown?
It is part of a wider enforcement push. Earlier in June, the SMC seized liquor worth ₹1.51 crore in Gondal taluka, Rajkot, and over ₹63 lakh near the Rajkot–Bhavnagar highway. Gujarat has maintained a complete prohibition on alcohol since 1960.
What happens next in the Botad liquor case?
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the six absconding accused. As a listed offence, the case carries heightened procedural scrutiny under Gujarat's prohibition enforcement framework.
