An alleged bootlegger, wanted in seven prohibition cases across Gujarat, was apprehended by the State Monitoring Cell in Ahmedabad. The arrest of Nareshbhai alias Nariyo Rawal, who had been evading authorities since 2023, was carried out following directives from Director General of Police G.S. Malik to crack down on illegal activities and absconding individuals. Rawal, a resident of Kolvada village in Gandhinagar district, had shifted to Shantipath Residency near the Ranasan toll plaza in Naroda, where he was traced and detained at 2.30 a.m. on July 21.
Acting on a tip-off received by State Monitoring Cell Police Sub-Inspector V.K. Rathod, the team successfully located Rawal at his new address. He was apprehended under Section 35(1)(J) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The arrest was in connection with a prohibition case from 2024 at Deesa Rural Police Station in Banaskantha district, involving violations of the Gujarat Prohibition Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code related to forgery.
Rawal, who was involved in the procurement and distribution of Indian Made Foreign Liquor in Gujarat, was wanted in multiple cases spanning from 2023 to 2026. The State Monitoring Cell disclosed that Rawal faced over 35 prohibition cases in various police stations and had been labeled a bootlegger in Gandhinagar district. Additionally, he is currently facing trial in 10 criminal cases related to prohibition and other offenses in different courts.
Police authorities revealed that Rawal, despite being a fugitive, continued his illegal liquor operations, leading to the issuance of arrest warrants. Upon his arrest, an iPhone 17 Pro Max mobile phone valued at Rs 45,000 was confiscated for further investigation by the State Monitoring Cell.
