Suspicious syrup bottles worth 73L seized

Rajkot: The city crime branch on Tuesday seized a massive stock of Ayurvedic syrup on suspicion that it had alcohol content more than permissible limits.The city police commissioner Raju Bhargava had received a private complaint that ayurvedic syrups that have intoxicating effects are being brazenly sold at several paan shops in the city. Bhargava then directed the crime branch, special operations group, and other police stations to take action against such sellers. On Tuesday, the crime branch team of inspector BT Gohil got information that five trucks loaded with such syrups are parked at different places in the city. The trucks were loaded at some places in the industrial area of Shapar-Veraval and brought to Rajkot for supply.Moreover, the truck drivers also did not have any documents regarding the stock.The crime branch found these trucks in the parking near Nagrik Bank chowk on Dhebar Road and in Madhav parking lot near Hudco Chowkdi. In all, 73,000 bottles worth Rs 73.27 lakh were seized from these trucks and the samples were sent to the forensic science laboratory and the foods and drugs control administration for further tests.All bottles had ‘Made in Vadodara’ labels and the contents printed had a list of different ayurvedic medicines.Police strongly suspect that the syrup has an intoxicating effect given the size of the seizure. The prohibition and excise departments have also joined the probe.This is not the first time that such stock of suspicious syrup has been seized.A senior police official told TOI: “It is mandatory for any Ayurvedic firm to get registration from the Ayush ministry. However, looking at the manufacturing labels, the firms don’t look genuine prima facie. However, we will lodge a formal complaint depending on the FSL report.”