Kheda/Anand, July 6 (IANS) The Gujarat Police’s State Monitoring Cell has seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and other property valued at more than Rs 56 lakh in two separate prohibition raids carried out in Kheda and Anand districts, leading to the registration of prohibition cases and action against multiple accused.

According to officials, the operations were carried out following instructions from the Director General of Police (DGP), G.S. Malik, to take legal action against illegal liquor and gambling activities across Gujarat.

In the larger seizure, Police Inspector A.Y. Baloch of the State Monitoring Cell conducted a raid at the parking area of Hotel Sahayog in Sandhana village on National Highway-64 within the jurisdiction of Matar Police Station in Kheda district.

During the operation, officers seized 5,940 bottles of IMFL valued at Rs 41,43,396. Including other seized property, the total value of the material recovered was Rs 56,48,396.

A case was registered against four wanted accused under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Gujarat Prohibition Act.

In a separate operation, Police Inspector P.B. Jebaliya led a raid near Vasad Toll Plaza on the Vadodara-Ahmedabad road within the jurisdiction of Vasad Police Station in Anand district.

The team seized 7,833 bottles of IMFL worth Rs 14,88,239. Along with other property, the total value of the seizure was Rs 21,99,009.

Police arrested Arman Babar, a resident of Mangrol in Junagadh district, while naming Adil Nazir Sheikh, identified as the main accused, Faesal Majidbhai, who allegedly provided the vehicle used for transporting the liquor, and Tausif Ibrahim Sheikh, who allegedly arranged and loaded the consignment, as wanted accused.

All three wanted accused are residents of Junagadh district. The case was registered at Vasad Police Station under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Gujarat Prohibition Act.

According to the State Monitoring Cell, during interrogation, Arman Babar stated that he had acted on the instructions of the main accused, Adil Nazir Sheikh.

“He collected a Bolero Maxx Pickup vehicle from Faesal Majidbhai, travelled to Goa and returned with the IMFL consignment after it had been loaded through Tausif Ibrahim Sheikh,” officials said.

The State Monitoring Cell said both operations were carried out as part of ongoing action against illegal liquor activities in Gujarat.

–IANS

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