Gujarat Liquor Case: Congress Corporator Arrested Amid Political Tensions

A political controversy has erupted in Gujarat after a Congress corporator from Vadodara was arrested in connection with a liquor prohibition case, with the opposition party alleging political vendetta while police insist the action is based on evidence gathered during investigation.The arrested leader has been identified as Ashish Joshi, a Congress corporator, whose detention has intensified political tensions ahead of the upcoming local body elections in the state.

The case has quickly escalated into a political flashpoint, with Congress accusing authorities of targeting its representatives.According to police officials, the case originated when Sankheda police intercepted a suspicious vehicle during routine patrolling and recovered 299 bottles of foreign liquor, valued at approximately ₹3 lakh. Gujarat enforces a strict prohibition policy, making possession and transportation of alcohol a punishable offence under state law.

Investigators said that during questioning, the driver of the vehicle, identified as Pramod, allegedly told police that the seized liquor consignment was intended for Ashish Joshi. Authorities further stated that the investigation was not based solely on this statement but also included technical evidence.Police officials claimed that call detail records suggested communication between the driver and Joshi, which strengthened the basis for registering a prohibition offence against the corporator on April 24 at Sankheda police station. They emphasised that the case was built on corroborative material collected during the probe.

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Late on Wednesday night, Ahmedabad’s Ramol police detained Joshi and subsequently handed him over to Sankheda police for further investigation. He was later produced before authorities amid protests from Congress workers and local party leaders, who gathered at the police station expressing opposition to the arrest.The Congress party has alleged that the arrest is politically motivated and part of a broader attempt to target its representatives ahead of elections. Party leaders have demanded transparency in the investigation and accused the ruling establishment of misusing law enforcement agencies to settle political scores.

Police, however, have rejected the allegations of bias, maintaining that the case is proceeding strictly on the basis of evidence and legal procedure. Officials said the investigation is ongoing and further action will depend on the outcome of forensic and technical analysis.The incident has added to the political temperature in Gujarat, where both ruling and opposition parties are already gearing up for the upcoming local body polls, turning the case into a closely watched legal and political development in the state.

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