Activa or Liquor Warehouse? Vadodara Cops Pull Out 455 Bottles From Scooters

VADODARA: It looked like an ordinary Activa scooter, but Bapod police soon discovered it had been transformed into a moving liquor warehouse. Officers were stunned to find 455 bottles of liquor hidden in specially created cavities across two scooters during a crackdown on bootlegging.

Acting on a tip-off, a Bapod police team intercepted two Activa mopeds—bearing registration numbers GJ-06-PM-5003 and GJ-23-DB-7712—while the vehicles were allegedly being used to transport a liquor consignment.

The search turned into a painstaking operation as officers discovered bottles concealed in multiple parts of the scooters. The accused had reportedly modified the vehicles with hidden compartments, including spaces beneath the seating arrangement and other cavities.

After removing the contraband, the scooters were left looking almost like empty shells.

Police seized 455 bottles of liquor valued at around ₹91,000, along with the two mopeds and two mobile phones. The total value of the seized property was estimated at ₹1.41 lakh.

The arrested accused were identified as Alkesh Arvindbhai Rathwa of Khorvaniya in Chhota Udepur and Sunil Pratapbhai Rathwa of Lagami in Chhota Udepur.

According to police, the duo was allegedly transporting the liquor to deliver it to a woman bootlegger.

Bapod Police Station PI D D Ladumor said the investigation had revealed the suspected source and intended recipient of the consignment.

“Ritesh Rathwa from Lagami village has emerged as the supplier, while Lakshmiben Arjunbhai Mali from Dodka village had allegedly ordered the liquor. Both have been declared wanted and a search is underway,” Ladumor said.

A case has been registered against the arrested accused under the Gujarat Prohibition Act. Police are now investigating the wider network and the role of those allegedly involved in supplying and receiving the consignment.