Rajkot: The Junagadh City C Division police have booked eight individuals under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act (GujCTOC), including Dhiren Kariya, a known bootlegger and history-sheeter who had also contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The FIR, filed by Local Crime Branch sub-inspector Jatin Patel, names Kariya and his associates—Uday Dave, Sameer Kodiyatar, Vipul alias Bhupat alias Kadi Sutreja, Bhavesh alias Bhavlo Bandhiya, Ajay Kodiyatar, Kirit alias Kido Chelana, and Bhupat Kodiyatar. Police allege the group formed a criminal gang involved in serious offences over the past decade across multiple districts including Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad, Rajkot Rural, Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Morbi, and Gandhinagar. Their crimes reportedly include murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, assault, Arms Act violations, and extensive smuggling of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL).

Kariya, ranked 19th on Gujarat’s list of Top 25 bootleggers, allegedly operated a liquor smuggling racket sourcing alcohol from Haryana, Rajasthan, and Punjab. The gang is accused of tampering with vehicle engine and chassis numbers, and forging transport and GST documents to facilitate illegal trade. Kariya alone is facing 57 criminal cases and was also booked by the Delhi Police special cell in 2020 on charges including fraud, criminal conspiracy, passport forgery, and other violations. DeshGujarat