Vadodara liquor raid: ₹84 lakh IMFL seized from flat parking, 7 booked
Synopsis
Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell uncovered a residential parking lot in Vadodara being used to stockpile over 16,000 bottles of IMFL and beer — the latest in a string of crore-plus seizures this August alone, pointing to a sophisticated supply chain quietly routing liquor into India's oldest dry state.
Key Takeaways
The Gujarat Police SMC seized 16,394 bottles of IMFL and beer worth ₹84.01 lakh from Neelkanth Villa flats parking, Vadodara , on 23 August .
Three four-wheelers, a two-wheeler, and other items were also seized; total confiscated property valued at ₹1,00,21,258 .
Seven accused named, including Nilesh alias Nilu Nathani ; case registered at Bapod Police Station under the Prohibition Act.
The raid follows SMC seizures of 31,836 bottles (worth ~ ₹1.20 crore ) on 13 August and 49,224 bottles (worth ₹1.49 crore ) in June .
Police are tracing the alleged supplier and intended recipient of the 23 August consignment.
The Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell (SMC) seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and beer worth ₹84.01 lakh from the parking area of a residential complex in Vadodara on Sunday, 23 August, dismantling an alleged liquor 'cutting' operation. The total value of all seized property — including vehicles — crossed ₹1 crore.
How the Raid Unfolded
Acting on directions from Director General of Police (DGP) G.S. Malik, an SMC team led by Police Inspector M.K. Malviya descended on the parking lot of Neelkanth Villa flats, located behind a white wooden house in Khodiyarnagar on New Karelibaug Road, Vadodara. The operation was part of a sustained statewide crackdown on illegal liquor and gambling networks.
The team recovered approximately 470 boxes containing 16,394 bottles of IMFL and beer, valued at ₹84,01,258. Three four-wheelers, a two-wheeler, and other articles were also seized, pushing the total value of confiscated material to ₹1,00,21,258, according to the SMC.
Case Registered, Seven Named
A case was registered at Bapod Police Station under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Prohibition Act. Seven wanted accused have been named, including Nilesh alias Nilu Nathani of Bapod and the registered owners of all seized vehicles. Among the others named are a person who allegedly fled the scene while unloading the consignment and another accused of dispatching the liquor. Police are actively tracing the alleged supplier and the intended recipient.
Part of a Wider August Crackdown
The Vadodara seizure is the latest in a series of major liquor recoveries across Gujarat this month. On 13 August, the SMC seized around 31,836 bottles of IMFL and beer worth approximately ₹1.20 crore near the Budhanpur toll plaza in Vav-Tharad, with total seized property valued at roughly ₹1.32 crore. On 16 August, Ahmedabad Rural Police intercepted a truck at Bagodra toll plaza and seized 7,164 IMFL bottles worth ₹26.81 lakh, arresting the driver.
Earlier in June, the SMC had seized 49,224 bottles of IMFL valued at ₹1.49 crore from a truck on the Vadodara-Ahmedabad Expressway near Bibipura, along with the vehicle and a mobile phone.
What This Signals
Gujarat has enforced Prohibition since 1960, making it one of the few dry states in India. The frequency and scale of recent seizures — running into crores each month — suggest well-organised supply chains routing liquor into the state through toll corridors and residential cover. Investigators are working to establish the source and distribution network behind the 23 August haul.
Point of View
Twice in August, now a residential parking lot in Vadodara — suggest Gujarat's dry-state enforcement is catching up with a supply chain that has grown bolder, not smaller. The use of flat complexes as staging points is a tactical shift from the highway-truck model; it implies local distribution networks with residential cover. What the SMC has yet to crack publicly is the upstream end: who is supplying, and through which corridor. Until those arrests materialise, each seizure, however large, is a symptom, not a cure.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Vadodara liquor raid on 23 August?
The Gujarat Police SMC seized approximately 16,394 bottles of IMFL and beer worth ₹84.01 lakh from the parking area of Neelkanth Villa flats in Khodiyarnagar, Vadodara. Three four-wheelers, a two-wheeler, and other articles were also confiscated, taking the total seizure value to over ₹1 crore.
Who led the Vadodara liquor raid and under whose orders?
The raid was led by Police Inspector M.K. Malviya of the State Monitoring Cell, acting on directions from Director General of Police G.S. Malik. The operation targeted an alleged liquor 'cutting' operation at a residential complex.
How many people have been booked in connection with the Vadodara seizure?
Seven people have been named as wanted accused, including Nilesh alias Nilu Nathani of Bapod and the owners of the seized vehicles. A case has been registered at Bapod Police Station under multiple sections of the Prohibition Act.
Is this the only major liquor seizure in Gujarat recently?
No. The 23 August Vadodara haul is part of a series of large seizures this year. The SMC seized around 31,836 bottles worth ₹1.20 crore near Vav-Tharad on 13 August, and 49,224 bottles worth ₹1.49 crore from the Vadodara-Ahmedabad Expressway in June. Ahmedabad Rural Police also seized 7,164 bottles on 16 August.
Why is liquor illegal in Gujarat?
Gujarat has enforced Prohibition since 1960 under the Gujarat Prohibition Act, making it one of the few dry states in India. Possession, sale, and transportation of alcohol without a permit are criminal offences under the Act.
