Rajkot: A joint operation by Rajkot Rural police’s special operations group and local crime branch led to two men being detained near Bharudi toll plaza, while they were allegedly transporting liquor after consuming narcotic tramadol tablets. Police seized items worth Rs 23.67 lakh and launched a further investigation.Rajkot SP Vijaysinh Gurjar told TOI that while the SOG and LCB teams were on patrol, they received specific information that a Fortuner SUV near Neelkanth Complex by the Bharudi toll plaza in Gondal taluka was carrying liquor and narcotic tablets. Police raided the site and detained Kiran Patel (resident of Pardi, Valsad) and Vaibhav Babariya (resident of Ratanpar, Rajkot), who were in the car.A search of the car unearthed tramadol tablets worth Rs 7.56 lakh in the possession of Kiran Patel. Police also recovered 93 bottles of Indian-made foreign liquor valued at over Rs. 52,000 from the vehicle. In total, tramadol tablets, liquor, Fortuner SUV and mobile phones worth Rs 23.67 lakh were seized.During questioning, Patel admitted he had brought a consignment of liquor from Silvassa to Rajkot and was to supply it in Jetpur on the instructions of a bootlegger named Jinu from Rajkot. He also confessed to using tramadol tablets to ward off fatigue and ward off sleep during his travel. The investigation found that one Rahul Barat from Silvassa had loaded the liquor into the car. Police are searching for Jinu and others involved. Notably, police records show Kiran Patel had previously been booked in liquor-related cases.A case has been registered at Gondal taluka police station under the NDPS Act against Kiran Patel, and under the Prohibition Act against Kiran Patel and Vaibhav Babariya, along with Rahul Barat and Jinu.
