Absconding Guj bootlegger wanted in seven cases arrested after nearly three years

Gandhinagar: An alleged bootlegger who had been absconding since 2023 and was wanted in seven prohibition cases across Gujarat was arrested by the State Monitoring Cell after being traced to a new residence in Ahmedabad, officials said on Wednesday.

According to the officials, the arrest followed directions from Director General of Police (DGP) G.S. Malik to intensify action not only against illegal liquor, gambling and other unlawful activities but also against absconding accused persons.

Police said State Monitoring Cell Police Sub-Inspector V.K. Rathod received information that Nareshbhai alias Nariyo Rawal, a resident of Kolvada village in Gandhinagar district, had changed his residence to evade arrest and was living at Shantipath Residency near the Ranasan toll plaza in Naroda of Ahmedabad.

Acting on the information, the team located him at the address and detained him at 2.30 a.m. on July 21 under Section 35(1)(J) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

The arrest was made in connection with a prohibition case registered at Deesa Rural Police Station in Banaskantha district in 2024 under provisions of the Gujarat Prohibition Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code relating to forgery and use of forged documents.

The accused has been handed over for further investigation being conducted by the State Monitoring Cell. Police said an iPhone 17 Pro Max mobile phone, valued at Rs 45,000, was recovered from the accused and seized as part of the investigation.

According to the State Monitoring Cell, Rawal was wanted in seven prohibition cases registered at Deesa Rural Police Station, Sector-21 Police Station, Pethapur Police Station and Kalol Police Station in Gandhinagar district, and Palanpur West Police Station in Banaskantha district between 2023 and 2026.

Officials alleged that Rawal was involved in procuring consignments of Indian Made Foreign Liquor from Rajasthan and supplying them to various cities and districts across Gujarat.

It stated that more than 35 prohibition cases have been registered against him in the state and that he has been declared a listed bootlegger at Pethapur Police Station in Gandhinagar district.

Police further said 10 criminal cases involving prohibition and offences against the human body are currently under trial against the accused in various courts, including district, sessions and JMFC courts.

Arrest warrants had been issued after he repeatedly failed to appear in court, and investigators alleged that he continued his illegal liquor activities even while he was absconding.

IANS