Gujarat Relaxes Liquor Ban with New Circular

Ahmedabad : The Gujarat Home Department has stirred significant debate with its recent decision to relax certain aspects of the state’s stringent liquor ban. In a surprise move, the department issued a circular that raises the threshold for the quantity of liquor needed to register a “quality case” against bootleggers, offering potential relief to those involved in smuggling and transporting alcohol within Gujarat.

Previously, if a bootlegger was caught with country liquor worth ₹15,000 or Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth ₹25,000, it was considered a quality case, triggering departmental action. However, under the new guidelines, the limits have been significantly increased. A seizure of country liquor worth ₹1 lakh or IMFL worth ₹2.5 lakh is now required to register a quality case. This change has drawn mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a loosening of the state’s long-standing prohibition laws.

Increased Liquor Seizure Limits

The new circular issued by the Gujarat Home Department has effectively raised the bar for what constitutes a quality case in liquor-related offenses. This move is expected to have a major impact on both law enforcement and the illicit liquor trade. As part of the new regulation, law enforcement officials will now only take departmental action if they catch country liquor valued at ₹1 lakh or more, or IMFL worth ₹2.5 lakh or more.

In cases where the liquor seized does not meet these new limits, less stringent action may be taken, potentially allowing bootleggers to avoid harsher penalties that previously applied to smaller quantities. This change has sparked concerns about how it will affect efforts to enforce prohibition in the state, which has been in place since Gujarat’s formation.

Recent Arrests in Kheda

Despite the increase in seizure limits, police continue to crack down on large-scale liquor smuggling operations. In Kheda, three bootleggers were arrested by the Deser police at a gorge near the Mahisagar river. The accused were caught with a large quantity of IMFL valued at ₹1.42 lakh. A case has been registered against five individuals in total, with charges filed against Alpesh Solanki, Mahesh Parmar, Deepu Raj, and Navghan Bharwad. The Deser police have initiated further action against the group.

Major Seizure in Rajkot

In another significant incident, the Rajkot Crime Branch made a major breakthrough on September 5 by seizing a truck full of IMFL valued at ₹50 lakh. The operation led to the arrest of Mahendra Sarang, a driver from Rajasthan. A total of 10,560 bottles of foreign liquor were confiscated, and authorities seized goods worth ₹82.85 lakh, including the truck used in the transportation. This case highlights that, despite the new thresholds, large-scale smuggling continues to be actively targeted by law enforcement.

Implications of the Policy Change

The new guidelines from the Home Department have raised questions about how effectively Gujarat’s prohibition laws will be enforced going forward. While some argue that the higher limits will ease the burden on law enforcement by focusing on larger operations, others fear that it may lead to a rise in small-scale bootlegging activities, as offenders may avoid significant penalties under the new rules.

The state government’s prohibition policy, in place since 1960, remains a deeply rooted aspect of Gujarat’s identity. However, with increasing pressure from various quarters, this latest development could mark the beginning of more substantial changes to the state’s approach to alcohol regulation.