Following the tragic hooch deaths in Bhavnagar, Gujarat police uncovered a massive illicit liquor manufacturing unit in Kutch, seizing thousands of bottles and toxic chemicals.

  • Police raided a makeshift fake liquor factory in Adipur, Kutch.
  • Approximately 10,000 bottles and 600 liters of chemicals were seized.
  • Two suspects from Mumbai and Mathura have been detained.
  • The raid is part of a larger probe into the Bhavnagar methanol tragedy.

In a major crackdown following the devastating hooch tragedy in Bhavnagar, Gujarat police have dismantled a clandestine fake liquor manufacturing unit in the Kutch district. The operation resulted in the seizure of nearly 10,000 bottles and a significant quantity of hazardous chemicals used in the production of spurious alcohol.

The Link to the Bhavnagar Tragedy

The discovery comes on the heels of a tragic incident in Bhavnagar where 13 people lost their lives after consuming liquor tainted with methanol. The State Monitoring Cell, which is conducting a multi-state investigation into the tragedy, has identified this Kutch-based facility as a potential link in the illicit supply chain. The seized bottles were found to bear labels of a popular Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brand, a tactic used to deceive unsuspecting consumers.

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Details of the Raid and Detentions

Chirag Koradiya, Inspector General of Police (Border Range), detailed the operation, stating that the raid took place at a makeshift factory in Adipur. Law enforcement officials recovered around 9,400 empty bottles, 600 filled 180ml bottles, and 600 liters of various chemicals. Two individuals, identified as Hitesh Bamaniya from Mumbai and Vijendra Jat from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, have been taken into custody for further interrogation.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the manufacture of spurious liquor in prohibition states like Gujarat is evolving into a sophisticated criminal enterprise. The use of high-profile brand labels indicates a calculated attempt to penetrate the market through deception. This crackdown is essential to dismantling the logistics network that moves toxic raw materials across state lines.

The transition from local illicit brewing to organized, branded counterfeit production poses a severe public health crisis.

The investigation is now widening its scope to include transporters and chemical suppliers. With 27 arrests already made in connection to the Bhavnagar incident, the Kutch seizure provides critical evidence regarding how methanol-tainted liquor is being mass-produced and distributed.

Did You Know?: Methanol is an industrial solvent that is highly toxic to humans; even small amounts can cause permanent blindness or death.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What was seized during the Kutch raid?
A: Police seized nearly 10,000 bottles (both empty and filled) and 600 liters of chemicals.

Q2: Who are the accused in this case?
A: The detained individuals include Hitesh Bamaniya from Mumbai and Vijendra Jat from Mathura.