Truck loaded with guar gum diverted to smuggle liquor, seized by police

A truck loaded with guar gum, meant for delivery to Mehsana in Gujarat, was diverted to Bathinda, where it was loaded with liquor for transport to Gujarat, where the sale and use of alcohol is banned. The truck was intercepted and seized by the Excise Department and police on its way to Hanumangarh.

According to police reports, a case has been filed against the truck’s owner, Budh Ram from Bhojasar tehsil in Phalodi and its driver, Ashu Ram Bishnoi from Mithra Khurd, Barmer, following a complaint by Dinesh Kumar Gupta, owner of Shiv Shakti Industries.

Gupta had engaged Jai Shri Ram Transport Company from Sriganganagar to transport 500 bags of guar gum to a firm in Mehsana, Gujarat, on December 19, with the consignment valued at Rs 9,94,250.

Gupta said after seven days with no word from the driver or truck, he grew concerned and found the truck missing, along with the goods. Investigating officer Raja Ram said the driver had diverted the truck to Bathinda, where the guar gum was replaced with 400 boxes of liquor.

The police intercepted the truck while it was en route from Bathinda to Hanumangarh. The driver, Ashu Ram was arrested; however, Budh Ram, the truck owner, managed to flee. Upon seizing the truck, police discovered a large portion of the guar gum had been removed. The missing product, along with the illegal liquor, is being investigated.

Police said Ashu Ram would be questioned regarding the missing guar gum after being brought in on a production warrant.