The Sarkhej Police intercepted a massive consignment of illicit liquor and seized a truck carrying foreign liquor and beer valued at Rs 76.56 lakh.

The liquor was being transported under the guise of Patanjali Ayurvedic products. The total value of the seized assets, including the vehicle, is estimated at Rs 1.01 crore.

The operation was initiated following a specific tip-off received by the Sarkhej Police about a truck transporting a large quantity of alcohol via the SP Ring Road, heading toward the Dholera Expressway from Bakrol Circle. A team led by Police Inspector L.L. Chavda and PSI A.R. Boliya set up a strategic watch on the Ring Road, and on spotting a suspicious white truck, the team intercepted the vehicle for inspection.

Initial physical checks revealed boxes of various Patanjali products. However, a deeper search uncovered the liquor stash concealed behind stacks of flour sacks and other consumer goods. The police arrested the truck driver, identified as Vagtaram Jat, 38, a resident of Rajasthan. The seizure included 5,088 bottles of liquor and 4,536 beer cans, totalling 9,624 units of contraband.

During primary interrogation, the driver revealed that the liquor was loaded in Ludhiana, Punjab, and was destined for Sanand or Kutch. Vagtaram said one Harish Chaudhary gave him the truck, and he first loaded legitimate goods from the Patanjali factory in Haridwar before travelling to Ludhiana, where the alcohol was surreptitiously added to the cargo.