Gang busted for liquor trafficking, eight cars seized

VADODARA: Bootleggers seem to be resorting to novel ideas to fox the police after the stricter prohibition law came in force and the police started a crackdown. The local crime branch (LCB) of the Vadodara rural police exposed one such racket involving the use of a closed industrial unit on Saturday and arrested nine persons.

Sleuths of LCB had received information that the premises of a closed unit on the Bhadarva-Sankarda road was being used to peddle liquor. The LCB and the Bhadarva police raided the closed unit and seized eight cars and 148 crates of liquor from the premises.

It has come to light that the bootleggers used to bring large stocks of liquor in cars to the godown and then distribute it to others who used their cars to take it away from the godown. It is believed that the stock was to be taken to various destinations in Vadodara city and district.

Sources said that since the police had surrounded the godown, the accused did not get an opportunity to run away and had to surrender. Those arrested include Vasant Chavda, Alpesh Vasava, Suresh Thakore, Mukesh Shrimali, Mayur Rajput, Pradeep Barot, Rajesh Sharma, Harivadan Simloti and Ishwar Bariya.

The bootleggers were from Vadodara city, Waghodiya, Halol and Balashinor. Interestingly, all bootleggers from the city are from the eastern parts of the city of Waghodiya Road and Khodiyarnagar.

Investigation so far has revealed that the stock of liquor was arranged by Sunil Jaiswal, a bootlegger from Ajwa Road in the city, and Sandeep Jaiswal from Indrad village in Savli taluka. The duo is yet to be arrested. The value of the seized liquor stock and the cars is estimated to be Rs 34.5lakh.