Ahmedabad, Gujarat: In a significant crackdown under the Gujarat Prohibition Act, police arrested 20 individuals, including 13 African students, for allegedly consuming liquor at a farmhouse party on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, officials said on Saturday. Gujarat, a dry state where sale and consumption of alcohol is banned, continues to enforce strict prohibition laws, and this recent raid highlights the state’s vigilance against illegal liquor activities.
According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Ahmedabad Rural Om Prakash Jat, a team conducted a late night raid on Friday after receiving a tip off about a liquor party being held in the Shilaj area. Out of nearly 70 attendees, 15 were found drunk and detained on the spot, including 13 African nationals currently studying in various institutions across the state, such as Gujarat University.
“Acting on specific intelligence, police officers entered the farmhouse in civil dress after purchasing passes for the event. During the raid, we seized 51 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and 15 hookahs, which are also banned in Gujarat,” SP Jat said.
Liquor Party Organised Under Garb of Student Get Together
Preliminary investigations revealed that the liquor party was organised under the guise of a social get together for African students studying in Gujarat. The event, according to police, was primarily coordinated by a Kenyan student, with entry passes ranging from ₹700 to ₹25,000. The gathering reportedly drew students from several African nations, including Kenya, Comoros, Madagascar, and Mozambique.
In addition to the students, five others were arrested early on Saturday morning, including two alleged bootleggers Anant Kapil and Ashish Jadeja and the farmhouse owner, Milan Patel. Authorities confirmed that no narcotic substances were found during the raid.
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Charges Filed Under Prohibition Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
All 20 accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Gujarat Prohibition Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for hatching a criminal conspiracy to organise the liquor party in violation of state laws. Officials said strict legal action would be taken against both organisers and participants.
SP Om Prakash Jat reiterated that Gujarat Police remains committed to curbing illegal liquor consumption and smuggling across the state. “We will continue to act against those violating prohibition laws. No one is above the law, irrespective of nationality,” he added.
Gujarat has been a dry state since its formation, following Mahatma Gandhi’s principle of temperance. The state government enforces a total ban on the sale, possession, and consumption of alcohol, with strict penalties under the Prohibition Act. Despite this, occasional cases of illegal liquor parties continue to surface, prompting regular surveillance and enforcement actions by authorities.
The recent arrests underscore the administration’s firm stance on upholding the state’s prohibition policy and sending a clear message that violations will not be tolerated.
