Surat Police fails to arrest notorious bootlegger Michael Patel 9 years after massive liquor seizure
Nine years after a major case of bootlegging was filed against him in Surat, Michael Patel alias Ramesh Patel, a notorious bootlegger accused of smuggling large quantities of liquor from Daman to Gujarat, remains absconding.In October 2016, Surat Police seized over 21,700 bottles of liquor and beer worth ₹22.98 lakh from Olpad, along with other items, taking the total seized goods to ₹90.27 lakh. While 13 of 23 accused were arrested, Patel and 10 others, alleged masterminds in the interstate liquor smuggling racket, are on the run.Patel’s attempts to quash the case in Gujarat High Court failed, and his anticipatory bail plea was recently rejected by the Ahmedabad Rural Court. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has stepped in after uncovering suspicious transactions linked to Patel’s wine shops, revealing over ₹225 crore in multiple bank accounts across Gujarat and Goa.During the investigation, shocking details emerged of transactions exceeding ₹225 crore across multiple accounts linked to the accused’s Sai Wine Shop and Sai Char Wine Shop. Notable findings include:HDFC Bank account: over ₹34.62 croreGoa bank account: over ₹1.11 croreAnother Goa bank account: over ₹1.11 croreBank of Baroda: over ₹55.75 croreSBI account: over ₹117.55 croreSai Bar and Restaurant account: over ₹23.04 croreDamaniya enterprise account: over ₹1.43 croreAnother Goa account: over ₹37.78 croreThe case has raised serious questions about the inability of the police to arrest Patel despite nine years of pursuit.
Nine years after a major case of bootlegging was filed against him in Surat, Michael Patel alias Ramesh Patel, a notorious bootlegger accused of smuggling large quantities of liquor from Daman to Gujarat, remains absconding.
In October 2016, Surat Police seized over 21,700 bottles of liquor and beer worth ₹22.98 lakh from Olpad, along with other items, taking the total seized goods to ₹90.27 lakh. While 13 of 23 accused were arrested, Patel and 10 others, alleged masterminds in the interstate liquor smuggling racket, are on the run.
Patel’s attempts to quash the case in Gujarat High Court failed, and his anticipatory bail plea was recently rejected by the Ahmedabad Rural Court. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has stepped in after uncovering suspicious transactions linked to Patel’s wine shops, revealing over ₹225 crore in multiple bank accounts across Gujarat and Goa.
During the investigation, shocking details emerged of transactions exceeding ₹225 crore across multiple accounts linked to the accused’s Sai Wine Shop and Sai Char Wine Shop. Notable findings include:
HDFC Bank account: over ₹34.62 crore
Goa bank account: over ₹1.11 crore
Another Goa bank account: over ₹1.11 crore
Bank of Baroda: over ₹55.75 crore
SBI account: over ₹117.55 crore
Sai Bar and Restaurant account: over ₹23.04 crore
Damaniya enterprise account: over ₹1.43 crore
Another Goa account: over ₹37.78 crore
The case has raised serious questions about the inability of the police to arrest Patel despite nine years of pursuit.
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