The Bhavnagar Local Crime Branch (LCB) on Tuesday arrested three persons, including a railway employee, after raiding a quarter in the Bhavnagar railway colony and seizing suspected counterfeit Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL), police said. The action followed a tip-off that led officers to a premises where bottles were allegedly being stored and relabelled to resemble branded liquor.
Details of the raid and seizures
Police identified the three arrested as Akshayrajsinh Gohil (32), a railway employee; Vijay alias Mayank Makwana (33); and Jitendra Khavadiya (40). During the raid at quarter number 70 in the railway colony on September 12, officers seized 17 bottles of suspected counterfeit liquor, various pieces of equipment used for manufacturing and other materials valued at more than ₹1 lakh, according to reporting by The Times of India.
- Location raided: Quarter No. 70, Bhavnagar railway colony
- Items seized: 17 bottles of suspected counterfeit liquor, manufacturing equipment, fake labels
- Estimated value of recovered goods: more than ₹1 lakh
Police said the alleged method of operations included bringing parcels of liquor from outside, using chemicals to alter contents, and applying fake manufacturer labels. Some of the recovered bottles reportedly bore the marking “For Sale in Punjab”, suggesting distribution beyond Gujarat.
"The raid was conducted after the agency received information that Gohil, Makwana and others were allegedly manufacturing fake liquor in the quarter," LCB in-charge Police Inspector P C Singarkhiya was quoted as saying.
Preliminary probe points to wider network
Investigators indicated the three arrested had allegedly conspired with several others. Names that emerged during the preliminary probe include Ramdevsinh Zala of Morbi; Arjunsinh Sodha of Bhavnagar; Suryapratapsingh Rathod and Ajitsingh alias Bana Rathod of Rajasthan; and Shaktisinh Rayjada, Bhavesh Solanki and Sharad Chavda. A case was registered at Bor Talav police station under provisions of the Gujarat Prohibition Act, the report said.
Authorities said the investigation was ongoing to determine the full extent of the operation and to identify additional persons linked to distribution points in Rajasthan, Morbi and other locations.
| Arrested Person | Age | Alleged Role |
|---|---|---|
| Akshayrajsinh Gohil | 32 | Railway employee; alleged storage and manufacture |
| Vijay (Mayank) Makwana | 33 | Alleged co-conspirator |
| Jitendra Khavadiya | 40 | Alleged co-conspirator |
Local stakes and broader implications
The incident highlights two immediate challenges for Bhavnagar: public safety concerns around illicitly produced liquor and the vulnerability of institutional housing areas such as railway colonies to unauthorised commercial activity. Counterfeit IMFL operations pose health risks to consumers and can erode market trust for legitimate bottlers and retailers in the region.
For Bhavnagar's trade community and legitimate liquor retailers, proliferation of fake-branded products can undercut sales and complicate regulatory compliance. The marking on some bottles — "For Sale in Punjab" — suggests the alleged network may have distribution links outside Gujarat, raising interstate enforcement questions under the Gujarat Prohibition Act and other statutes.
Police have not released details about any forensic analysis of the seized liquids or the chemicals recovered. The LCB's next steps, as reported, include tracing the supply chain of parcels allegedly brought into the railway quarter and establishing connections with named persons in Morbi, Rajasthan and within Bhavnagar district.
The matter remains under active investigation by Bor Talav police and the LCB. Further arrests and seizures cannot be ruled out as enquiries progress.
