Inter-state Liquor Network Linked to Gujarat Exposed After Murder of Madhya Pradesh Police Officer

An investigation into the murder of a police officer during a vehicle check on Sunday night in Madhya Pradesh has uncovered a major inter-state liquor smuggling network linked to Gujarat. During the probe into the murder of Dilip Puri, In-charge of Khategarh Police Station, officials revealed that this syndicate procured liquor from licensed outlets in Madhya Pradesh and transported it to Gujarat. The network utilised specially modified vehicles and hidden routes for the trafficking of liquor.

The incident occurred on the Indore-Betul highway near Sandalpur Phata in Dewas district. Police had received information regarding a large consignment of liquor being transported from Timarni in Harda district towards Gujarat. The incident took place when Dilip Puri went to inspect a truck parked near a dhaba. According to the police, to evade inspection, the driver suddenly accelerated the truck and deliberately ran over Puri. Constable Sohan Jat was also injured in the attack. Later, an abandoned truck was found near Sandalpur, from which over 1,800 litres of liquor hidden in secret compartments was recovered, and the truck was seized by the police.

Investigations revealed that the smugglers used licensed stores in Madhya Pradesh. Special Director General of Police Upendra Jain stated that liquor was sourced from licensed stores associated with Patendra Jaiswal in Timarni and then dispatched through a systematic network of suppliers, transporters, and distributors. The smugglers constructed special chambers in the trucks to hide liquor cartons beneath legal goods. Additionally, escort vehicles were used to monitor police movements and ensure the safe delivery of the consignment. This liquor was transported towards Gujarat via districts of western Madhya Pradesh.

Dewas Superintendent of Police Aditya Mishra stated that Rahul Jaiswal, the In-charge of Khategarh assembly and a Congress leader, is the mastermind behind this smuggling network. He managed the operations and financial transactions of the liquor trafficking. In this network, Rahul Jaiswal, Manish Jaiswal of Indore, and Mohin Jaiswal of Gujarat held a 30 per cent share each, while liquor contractor Patendra Jaiswal held only a 10 per cent share. Rahul Jaiswal collected the funds from the entire business and distributed them among the members. An employee named Vijay Rao, a resident of Indore, has been arrested, who confessed to working in this network for Rahul Jaiswal. So far, the roles of a total of seven people, including an operator from Gujarat, have emerged in this investigation, and several individuals, including the Congress leader, have been arrested.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav held a special meeting on the matter and instructed state police personnel to take strict action against liquor mafias. He stated that intensive action should be taken across the state to stop the trafficking, storage, and sale of liquor, and stringent steps should be taken against anyone involved in these activities.

Prohibition law has been in effect in Gujarat since 1960.