Operation Parakram: ‘Bootlegger’, his family members held for ‘illicit liquor sale’ in Vadodara’s 1st case under Organised Crime Act

All the five accused were arrested from their residence in Ratanpura and produced before a magistrate on Wednesday, officers said.

The arrests were made as part of Operation Parakram, a statewide crackdown by the Gujarat Police on organised criminal networks.

Police said that till date, a total of 33 FIRs have been registered against the five accused — including 31 against Jaiswal himself. His brother Hitesh alias Pappu faces 12 of the cases, wife Seema seven, son Sachin five, and associate Rajesh Baria alias Khanna three. The cases include charges of attempt to murder, forgery, assault on police, criminal intimidation, conspiracy, rioting and grievous assault, as well as multiple offences under the Prohibition Act.

According to the police, the gang was allegedly part of a wider criminal network that smuggled Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) into Gujarat from states including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Daman and Himachal Pradesh. The alcohol was allegedly distributed in Ahmedabad, Surat and Chhota Udepur, in sealed bottles as well as “loose sale”.

Police said Jaiswal was been detained twice in the past under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities (PASA) Act, while his wife, brother, and son have each faced detention once under the same law for similar offences.

Vadodara District Superintendent of Police Sushil Agrawal said, “We have arrested Rakesh Jaiswal, who has been a notorious bootlegger in the region, along with his wife, son, brother, and another member of his gang. The gang not only indulged in bootlegging but also has a history of assaulting and intimidating people who complain or share information about their activities with the police.”

He added, “The gang has also been involved in assaults on police personnel in the past. All members of the Jaiswal family have been jailed under PASA before but continue to engage in bootlegging after being released on bail, violating court-imposed conditions.”