It’s an open secret that despite Gujarat’s decades-long prohibition on alcohol, illicit liquor trade flourishes across the state.
The issue has flared up again, with Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani warning that police could lose their jobs after liquor and drugs were reportedly found near a school in Tharad.
He insinuated that Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister, was backing the police, even though Gujarat has a complete ban on liquor.
Even as the two eminent political personalities hurl verbal grenades at each other, Gujarat’s sloppy record of alcohol prohibition can’t be glossed over anymore.
In the absence of firm regulations and strong watch on illicit liquor selling practices, alcohol traders continue to have a field day, hoodwinking the law at will and working their way around the system.
And amidst the enforcement struggles, authorities profit, and the shadow industry keeps thriving.
Ground realities…
Despite Gujarat’s ban on alcohol since 1948, the reality is starkly different. Rich or poor, upper-caste or not, alcohol is accessible to all. The trade operates underground. Local police are often alleged to take a cut.
Occasionally, the liquor sold is adulterated with methyl alcohol. It adds a “kick” but can be deadly even in small doses. Many hooch tragedies are linked to it.
In a certain context, Mewani reportedly told a media house that the liquor industry in Gujarat is worth over Rs 1,500 crore. “Right from the local leaders to the constable to those sitting in power in Gandhinagar, everyone has some kind of association and is benefiting from the illegal trade of alcohol in the state. However, whenever tragedies related to its consumption happen, it is always the poor who will fall victim to the poison,” he was quoted as saying.
The dark underbelly of liquor business in Gujarat
It beggars belief that Ahmedabad, home to Gandhi Ashram, has the highest number of illegal liquor cases in Gujarat.
In the first half of last year, the State Monitoring Cell (SMC) reportedly recorded 35 prohibition cases across four commissionerates.
Ahmedabad alone accounted for 17. Surat had 13, Vadodara five, and Rajkot none. Ahmedabad also topped liquor cases in 2023, with 37 of 83 cases registered there.
Between January and June 2024, the SMC reportedly conducted 224 raids, of which 180 of them were successful. Rs 11.5 crore worth of liquor and Rs 26 crore worth of illegal goods were seized.
The exceptions…
It must be mentioned that alcohol is officially allowed in the state only on “medical grounds.” Recent government data shows 50,000 permits have been issued so far. Until 2018, permits were cheap and easy to get. Now, the processing fee has doubled to Rs 2,000, and private doctor certificates are no longer accepted.
Hotels can sell alcohol only if they meet strict rules. They must be three-star or above. They cannot be near temples, schools, or hospitals. They must also be registered with the state Tourism Department. Only permit-holders or tourists from other states can be served.
The government in recent times has allowed for the occasional relaxation of laws to attract foreign tourists. Online permits are also facilitated.
For those without permits, bootleggers are the next option. Some even offer doorstep delivery.
The Gujarat High Court is reviewing petitions challenging the Prohibition Act. Petitioners argue the law violates constitutional rights, including the right to privacy and equality. They say, “The law must take cognisance of the changing society.”
Police families protest
Meanwhile, Mevani’s remarks triggered protests by police families in Vadgam and Tharad, highlighting the tension involving law enforcement, politicians, and the shadowy alcohol economy thriving beneath the state’s dry façade.
While acknowledging that Mevani raised a valid issue of alcohol, Prakashbhai Soni, vice-president of Tharad Trader Association, said his tone was objectionable.
“What Jignesh Mevani spoke here about the issue of alcohol and drugs is correct and valid and even we agree that it should not be there. But the manner in which he spoke against senior police officers was not acceptable at all. Vav-Tharad is a new district and everyone including the police is working hard and taking suggestions from people. But to keep himself active on social media, Mevani used such language. They (police) are new, it is an insult not to the police but to us. We realised we had to stand by the police officers so we called a meeting and decided to call for a bandh,” he told a national daily.
Additionally, Mevani in a video message, reportedly said, “Gujarat DGP Vikas Sahay in a recent address to police staff said if there is any lapse on the part of any police official, we will address that administratively. There is no need to ‘tolerate’ any allegations by outsiders…..You are right in sending across this message for police personnel but as the leader of the police force in the state you must be aware that senior officers across 33 districts earn from rampant businesses of drugs, land deals, mining, gambling, alcohol. I appeal to you to stop drug and alcohol business in Gujarat.”
Gulabsinh Rajput, President of the Banaskantha District Congress Committee, however backed Mevani and alleged that the government was misleading the public. He further mentioned that they would be submitting a representation to the collector, demanding action against those involved in the trade of liquor and drugs.
Not to be undone, Sanghavi informed the police at a function that several highly educated individuals, who may lack cultural sensitivity, might approach them and attempt to remove their belts or even jeopardise their jobs.
His reference to education came in response to Mevani, who, while attacking Sanghavi, had reportedly suggested that the latter had studied only up to grade VIII.
Words are flying and tensions are rising, though they may soon subside. What is likely to persist are Gujarat’s lax liquor laws, increasingly at odds with the reality on the ground.
Also Read: “Free Flow Of Drugs In Gujarat”, Company Once Raided Restarts https://www.vibesofindia.com/free-flow-of-drugs-in-gujarat-company-once-raided-restarts/
