Ahmedabad's Zone-6 Local Crime Branch squad chased down a liquor-laden Creta near Maninagar's Jagadiya Bridge and arrested two bootleggers with contraband worth Rs 17.31 lakh. The action came amid intensified vehicle checks across Ahmedabad to curb the illegal sale of liquor during the festive season.
The accused were allegedly transporting Indian-made foreign liquor and beer from the Shamlaji border in Rajasthan to Kagadapith, where they planned to unload the consignment ahead of Diwali. Police said five other suspects, including the alleged supplier and local buyers, are absconding.
Acting on a tip-off, the Zone-6 LCB squad deployed multiple teams to intercept the Creta. When the vehicle reached Jagadiya Bridge in Maninagar, two police constables signalled the driver to stop.
A chase on an Activa
The driver accelerated instead of pulling over. An LCB personnel then pursued the car on an Activa scooter and eventually intercepted it further ahead, bringing the chase to an end.
Police arrested Sahil alias Bobby alias Bhedaro Vaghela, 22, and Dhruv alias Dhuliyo Parmar, 22, both residents of Kagadapith. The police seized the liquor and beer consignment along with the Creta, taking the total value of the recovered property to Rs 17.31 lakh.
The chase shows how the festive-season checks are working on the ground. Teams posted at key points are watching for vehicles moving contraband into the city, and the tip-off system let the squad place its men exactly where the Creta was expected.
Five more suspects on police radar
Investigators have launched a search for five other accused allegedly linked to the supply and distribution network. Those wanted include the person who allegedly sent the liquor from the Shamlaji border and individuals who had arranged to receive the consignment in Kagadapith, Khokhra and Amraiwadi.
Police are investigating the wider network behind the consignment and the intended distribution of the liquor across Ahmedabad. The arrests are a first step, and the focus now shifts to tracing the supply chain back to its source and forward to its buyers.
The seizure adds to the string of festive-season actions against illegal liquor in the city. With Diwali demand pushing up the trade, police have stepped up checks on highways and at entry points, and the Maninagar interception is one of the bigger hauls of the week.
