Ahmedabad, Dec. 24: Nayna Patel, a gynaecologist who has made Anand the country's commercial surrogacy capital, today lashed out at police for rounding up guests at a pre-wedding party in Vadodara on Thursday night where liquor was served.
Patel was one of the 260-odd guests detained after the police raid and allowed to go only after giving their blood samples, a process that went on till early morning. Former IPL chairman Chirayu Amin was another high-profile guest at the party.
"It is really absurd that police raided a private party. It was not a nasty rave party. It was a purely social gathering, a pre-wedding dinner party. The police had no business to be there," Patel said.
Gujarat has been under total prohibition since the 1960s but the police could not recall a raid on such a scale on any liquor party attended by VIPs.
Patel said she had reached the farmhouse, where Vadodara industrialist Jitendra Shah was hosting the party for his granddaughter's wedding, around 9pm and was to leave around 10pm after dinner. The groom is Patel's daughter-in-law's brother.
"But the police raided and took us to a hospital to take blood samples. Even two young NRI girls, aged 11 and 14, were asked to give blood samples," she said, adding that the minor girls were allowed to go without tests after she and other women put their foot down.
Most of the 134 women at the party "did not even touch liquor", the gynaecologist said, adding she was humiliated for a "crime she did not commit".
After the Thursday shock, Patel said she feels that now onwards, those who can afford it will host their wedding celebrations in Goa, Diu or neighbouring Rajasthan where they will not be harassed.
BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said: "I don't think women in Gujarat drink. It is unfortunate that they had to face such harassment. But it's the law."
Jitendra Shah and his son Abhay, who were arrested and face a minimum three years in jail for storing liquor at their farmhouse, were granted parole today to attend the wedding.
Under the stricter prohibition law that came into force recently, the highest punishment for buying or selling liquor is 10 years in jail and a fine of Rs 5 lakh.
OBC leader Alpesh Thakor, who has been leading a campaign seeking implementation of the stricter prohibition law that came into force recently, hit out at the state's BJP government for failing to implement prohibition.
That liquor was available in such large quantities in a dry state was proof that prohibition was ineffective, he said. The police and their political bosses were hand in glove, allowing the bootlegging business to flourish.
Thakor sought the resignation of chief minister Vijay Rupani and minister of state for home Pradipsinh Jadeja and said had he been chief minister, he could "end the liquor menace in a day".
Home minister Jadeja said the police had done what they were supposed to do. Whoever tests positive for liquor would face action. "Nobody will be spared. That is all I can say at the moment," he said.
