Gujarat Cops Allegedly Sold, Drank & Later Dumped 100 Bottles Of Seized Liquor
by Loveleen KaurGujarat is one of the states in India that has completely banned liquor. However, over the years, several people have been booked for trading liquor and several bottles of contraband alcohol have been seized from within the dry state. Recently, Gujarat’s Kadi police station came under the scanner for allegedly selling, consuming and disposing of illicit liquor that was seized earlier.
According to The Indian Express, a sudden raid was conducted in the police station after the team under Inspector General (IG) (Gandhinagar range) allegedly received a tip that the police station staff is involved in this illegal act.
Soon after, the cops recovered 100 bottles of alcohol from Sabarmati canal near Kadi police station in Mehsana district, reports Times Of India. An enquiry was then conducted by Gandhinagar SP Mayur Chavda. It has been alleged that the cops threw a carton of 100 Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) in the canal to evade this sudden raid.
Post the inquiry, Chavda confirmed that the liquor was sold-off and personally used by the cops. A report by Times Now stated that the inquiry has found the involvement of nine policemen, including Kadi Police Inspector OM Desai, two police SIs, four police constables, one Gujarat Raksha Dal personnel and one home guard in this regard. A complaint under the prohibition act has been registered against the cops.
A senior official of Gujarat Police said, “A police team found some bottles of IMFL in the Kadi police station and it was alleged that a few local policemen had thrown other bottles in the canal.”
“After our own divers failed to locate the bottles, a team of NDRF scuba divers and fire safety department personnel were called in. A total of 100 IMFL bottles were found in the canal.”
“And the IG (Gandhinagar range) has formed an SIT (special investigative team) of high ranking officials who will probe the incident. No case has been lodged yet.”
An investigation is underway to find out the quantity of sold contraband and who benefitted from this illegal trading. It has also been alleged that the liquor in question has been seized over the span of three years in different cases of prohibition. TOI quoted a source saying:
“Kadi police inspector along with other cops sold liquor during lockdown which they had seized from last three years in different cases of prohibition.”
“They might have consumed the liquor and when they knew they might be exposed, they dumped the liquor bottles in the canal.”
The cops are also to explore the angle of the destruction of evidence during further investigation. What do you think of this incident? Tell us.
