Rajkot/Morbi, June 19 (IANS) The Special Monitoring Cell (SMC) of Gujarat Police seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth more than Rs 1.26 crore and recovered vehicles, mobile phones and cash valued at more than Rs 1.81 crore in two separate prohibition operations conducted in Rajkot and Morbi districts.

In the first operation, the SMC conducted a prohibition cutting raid at a premises in the RK-9 Industrial Area of Kuvadva in Rajkot.

During the raid at Shri Ramdev Plot No. 5, police recovered 26,304 bottles of IMFL valued at Rs 70,38,336.

Two vehicles worth Rs 30.40 lakh and a mobile phone worth Rs 10,000 were also seized, taking the total value of the muddamal to Rs 1,00,88,336.

Police registered offences under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Prohibition Act, along with Sections 111(2)(b) and 111(3)(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

One accused, identified as Pareshkumar Patel, a resident of Santosh Nagar near Nana Mava Circle in Rajkot, was arrested and handed over to Kuvadva Road Police Station.

Police have declared six persons wanted in connection with the case.

They include Firoj Sandhi of Rajkot’s Jungleshwar area, who is alleged to have ordered the liquor consignment; Sultan Sandhi of Rajkot, who is also alleged to have ordered the consignment and driven a car; an unidentified truck driver who allegedly transported the liquor in truck; an unidentified car driver; an unidentified pickup truck driver; and the alleged supplier of the liquor consignment.

In a separate operation conducted between June 18 and 19, the SMC intercepted a container near Vaghasiya Toll Plaza on National Highway-27, opposite Gayatri Chamber in Morbi district.

The prohibition running raid resulted in the seizure of 28,912 bottles of IMFL worth Rs 55,74,528. Police also seized a vehicle worth Rs 25 lakh, three mobile phones valued at Rs 10,500 and cash amounting to Rs 1,070.

The total value of the muddamal recovered in the case was Rs 80,86,098.

The case was registered under Sections 65(A), 65(E), 81, 83, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Prohibition Act and was handed over to Wankaner City Police Station.

One accused, Achala Jat, a resident of Dheerasar village in Chohtan tehsil of Rajasthan’s Barmer district, was arrested. Police said he was the driver and owner of the container.

Two persons have been named as wanted accused in the case. They are Manish Sharma of Rajasthan’s Sikar city, who is alleged to be the supplier of the liquor consignment, and an unidentified recipient of the liquor in Morbi.

Police said further investigation is underway in both cases to trace the absconding accused and determine the full supply network involved in the transportation and distribution of the seized liquor.

–IANS

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