A police inspection against illegal liquor transport in Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh, turned fatal when bootleggers assaulted the enforcement team. Station House Officer Dilip Puri of Khategaon police station was crushed beneath a truck loaded with illicit liquor along the Indore-Betul Highway between Khategaon and Sandalpur. The incident took place during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, between 1:00 AM and 1:30 AM. Dilip Puri succumbed to his injuries during medical treatment at a hospital, while a constable was also injured. Police subsequently intercepted the vehicle, recovered the illegal consignment, and arrested Rahul Jaiswal, the key ringleader of the illicit liquor supply network, alongside another associate.
Four Teams Formed Following Tip-Off
Enforcement authorities received specific intelligence late in the night on November 2 regarding a large-scale movement of unauthorized alcohol. The informant reported that an Eicher truck bearing registration number MP43 H 4786 was transporting a significant quantity of illicit liquor from Timarni in Harda district bound for Gujarat. Acting upon this input, four specialized police teams were assembled under the direct supervision of the Additional Superintendent of Police, Kannod, to secure the transport corridor and interdict the vehicle.
During tactical cordoning along the designated route, personnel spotted the suspect Eicher truck parked directly in front of the Narmada Dhaba near Sandalpur Fata. Khategaon Station House Officer Inspector Dilip Puri approached the vehicle and instructed the driver to step out and submit the consignment for a formal search.
Deadly Assault and Driver Escape
Rather than complying with the inspector's orders, the driver abruptly accelerated the heavy vehicle with the deliberate intent to run down the officer. Inspector Dilip Puri was struck and came directly under the rear wheel of the accelerating truck. The driver also directed the moving truck toward Constable Sohan Jat, inflicting injuries on him as well. Exploiting the nighttime conditions, the driver fled the scene with the alcohol-laden vehicle immediately after the collision.
Emergency responders transferred Dilip Puri to a medical facility for urgent care, where he died while undergoing treatment. Following the assault, Khategaon police station registered a formal case under sections 103(1), 109(1), 121(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with section 34(2) of the Excise Act.
Network Crackdown and Key Arrests
Coordinated police teams executed widespread search operations in the surrounding zones, successfully locating and seizing the Eicher truck along with the smuggled alcohol. Investigators identified the driver as Gajendra alias Akku Rawat, a resident of Alirajpur district. Inquiries revealed that the vehicle used in the crime had been provided by Keram Singh, a resident of Changod in Alirajpur district. Keram Singh was taken into custody by law enforcement and subjected to interrogation regarding his role in facilitating the transport.
Widening the scope of the probe, police arrested Rahul Jaiswal, identified as the central mastermind heading the illicit supply operations. Multiple police teams remain deployed to trace and apprehend remaining individuals linked to the incident.
Interstate Supply Chain Connecting Harda to Gujarat
The investigation uncovered that the seized consignment originated from Timarni in Harda district and was intended for delivery in Gujarat. The formal liquor contract stands registered in the name of Patendra Jaiswal, a resident of Barwani district. However, operational control was distributed across a structured syndicate with specific financial stakes.
Under the operating arrangement, Rahul Jaiswal, Manish Jaiswal, and Mohin Jaiswal each held a 30 percent share in the venture, while Patendra Jaiswal held a 10 percent interest. The partners operated from different strategic locations: Manish Jaiswal resides in Indore, Mohin Jaiswal is stationed in Gujarat, and Patendra Jaiswal lives in Barwani district. Authorities are currently examining the logistics and financial operations supporting this interstate smuggling conduit.
