The Gujarat police busted a party and found 20 youngsters drinking alchool and having hookahs. Gujarat is a dry state and alcohol consumption without a permit is a crime. Those arrested include 13 students from Africa. The party was described as a cultural get together.
🔒 Gujarat’s Strict Dry Law
Gujarat is one of India’s few “dry states”, where the sale, purchase, and consumption of alcohol are strictly prohibited under the Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949. Only individuals with special medical or tourist permits are allowed to drink legally.
Despite this, illegal liquor consumption remains a recurring challenge, often surfacing through secret “farmhouse parties” or bootlegging networks — both of which the police say they are determined to stamp out.
🍾 The Farmhouse Party That Broke the Law
The raid took place at a farmhouse in Shilaj, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad city. Acting on a tip-off about an “exclusive student get-together,” undercover police officers purchased entry passes and entered the venue posing as guests.
“Based on a specific tip-off, police teams raided the farmhouse and found 15 persons, including 13 African nationals, in a drunken state,” said Om Prakash Jat, Superintendent of Police (Ahmedabad-Rural).
During the search, officers seized 51 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and 15 hookahs — both banned under Gujarat’s prohibition and tobacco laws.
🌍 Who Was Involved
Of the arrested individuals, most of the foreign students were from Kenya, while others hailed from Comoros, Madagascar, and Mozambique, officials said.
Two local bootleggers — identified as Anant Kapil and Ashish Jadeja — along with the farmhouse owner, Milan Patel, were later detained for supplying the liquor and hosting the event.
According to the investigation, the event was organised by a Kenyan student under the pretext of a “cultural get-together” for African students studying at Gujarat University and other institutions across the state.
“The passes for the event were priced between ₹700 and ₹25,000,” SP Jat revealed, adding that while no narcotics were found, alcohol was served freely throughout the night.
⚖️ Legal Action Under Gujarat’s Prohibition Act
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.
“The sale, transport, and consumption of liquor in any form is a punishable offence in Gujarat,” SP Jat said. “Even possession of alcohol bottles without a permit invites prosecution.”
🚫 The Larger Picture: Prohibition in a Gujarat
The case has reignited debate over Gujarat’s prohibition policy, which remains one of the most stringent in India. While the law was originally introduced on Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of temperance, critics argue it has led to bootlegging networks and periodic hooch tragedies, rather than full compliance.
Authorities, however, insist prohibition is here to stay — and enforcement will continue to be strict.
“This incident sends a message that the police will not tolerate any violation of the state’s liquor laws, no matter who is involved,” said a senior officer from the Ahmedabad Rural Police.
📌 Summary
- What happened: Police raided a farmhouse party near Ahmedabad.
- Arrests: 20 people, including 13 African students.
- Seizure: 51 liquor bottles, 15 hookahs.
- Charges: Gujarat Prohibition Act and BNS conspiracy sections.
- Context: Gujarat remains India’s only large state with full alcohol prohibition.
Also Read: Gujarat District Declares Dry Day; But Gujarat As Such Has Prohibition! https://www.vibesofindia.com/gujarat-district-declares-dry-day-but-gujarat-as-such-has-prohibition/
