Ahmedabad: Police have arrested 20 people, including 13 African students, following a late-night raid on a farmhouse party on the outskirts of Ahmedabad where liquor was allegedly being consumed in violation of Gujarat’s prohibition laws, officials said on Saturday.

According to Superintendent of Police (Ahmedabad-Rural) Om Prakash Jat, the raid took place at a farmhouse in the Shilaj area on Friday night. Out of nearly 70 attendees, 15 individuals, including 13 African nationals, were found to be intoxicated and were taken into custody.

In the early hours of Saturday, police apprehended five more suspects, including two alleged bootleggers, identified as Anant Kapil and Ashish Jadeja, along with the farmhouse owner, Milan Patel, bringing the total number of arrests to 20.

“Based on a specific tip-off, police teams raided a farmhouse in the city's Shilaj area and nabbed 15 persons, including 13 African nationals, in drunk state. These African nationals are studying in different universities of the state, including the Gujarat University,” said Jat.

During the operation, police seized 51 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor and 15 hookahs, both prohibited in Gujarat. The majority of the foreign students were reportedly from Kenya, with others from Comoros, Madagascar and Mozambique, police said.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the event was organised “in the garb of a get-together” for African students currently studying in various colleges and universities across Gujarat. Police officers, acting on a tip-off, reportedly purchased entry passes and entered the venue in plain clothes before carrying out the raid.

“The get together was meant for African students and it was organised by a Kenyan student. The prices of passes for the event ranged from Rs 700 to Rs 25,000. A liquor party was organised in the farmhouse in the garb of a get together. However, we did not find any narcotics substance during the raid,” Jat added.

Those arrested have been booked under the Gujarat Prohibition Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for criminal conspiracy. Police said further investigation is underway.

PTI