228 bottles of liquor hidden in truck seized, 3 arrested

Ahmedabad: The Sola police on Monday foiled an illegal liquor trafficking attempt after intercepting a truck on the SG Highway and seizing Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) and other articles collectively valued at around Rs 20 lakh.According to the complaint filed by assistant police constable Rishabh Rammahesh with the Sola High Court police, they had received a tip-off that a truck bearing Rajasthan registration was ferrying foreign liquor from the Vaishnodevi Bridge side towards Sarkhej. A police team laid a trap near the Sola overbridge and intercepted the vehicle.They were three men inside the truck, identified as Kailashchandra Dhanpal (34), Jivataram Auta (26) and Alpesh Meena (20), all residents of Rajasthan. Initially, the trio told police that the truck was transporting sacks of tile-making powder destined for Morbi.However, a thorough search of the vehicle revealed cartons of sealed liquor bottles concealed beneath the powder bags. Police recovered 228 bottles of various brands, bearing labels marked "For sale in Rajasthan only". The seized liquor was valued at Rs 3.97 lakh.In addition to the liquor, police seized the truck, estimated to be worth Rs 15 lakh, and three mobile phones. The total value of the seized articles was pegged at around Rs 20 lakh.During interrogation, the accused allegedly told police that the liquor belonged to a Rajasthan-based man and was being transported to Morbi on his instructions. The Sola police registered a case under relevant sections of the Prohibition Act against the trio and other persons involved in the illegal trade.