The Uttarakhand Excise Department has arrested a 25-year-old law student and his associate in an alleged alcohol smuggling network that supplied liquor through home delivery to college students in Dehradun.

Officials identified the main accused as Garvit, also known as Vikrant, and said he was studying law at Uttaranchal University. Aditya Kumar was also arrested after excise officials allegedly recovered around 10 boxes of imported liquor from his rented room in Bidhouli.

The department said the network supplied students living in paying guest accommodation and hostels in the Bidhouli-Premnagar area. Orders were allegedly coordinated through WhatsApp groups, while printed rate cards were distributed near hostels and paying guest facilities.

How the alleged network operated

According to Excise Inspector for the Mussoorie area, Divakar Chaudhary, Garvit came to the Bidhouli area during 2022-23, enrolled at a college and started operating cafes. The department alleges that he brought inexpensive and imported liquor from Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh for supply in the area.

The investigation alleges that Garvit recruited local youths aged 18 to 25 as delivery workers. They were reportedly paid ₹15,000 per month and provided 2-wheelers for deliveries. The workers allegedly shared location details and payment information through a WhatsApp group.

The department also said delivery workers were required to selfies in the group in the morning and evening as attendance. Liquor was allegedly delivered throughout the night along with food ordered from the cafes. Garvit’s family members were also operating cafes in Dehradun, according to the department.

Officials said the alleged operation sold around 20 to 25 boxes of imported liquor each day. Some bottles reportedly did not carry authorised holograms. The department has estimated that the activity caused an annual revenue loss of around ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore to the Uttarakhand government.

Arrests and court proceedings

The case began with action on the night of 25 August, when a team led by Excise Inspector Divakar Chaudhary seized one car and 2 scooters in the Bidhouli area. 2 alleged smugglers were arrested during that operation.

The department said questioning led investigators to Garvit. A subsequent raid at a house allegedly recovered a large quantity of liquor, and Garvit’s mother was arrested on 25 August. Garvit, however, was reported to have remained absconding at that stage.

The excise department registered a case under non-bailable Sections 63/72 of the Excise Act. Garvit later sought anticipatory bail from the High Court but did not receive relief, according to the report.

On Wednesday, 7 October 2026, Garvit surrendered before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court. The court sent him directly to jail. Early on Thursday, 8 October 2026, excise officials raided Aditya Kumar’s rented room in Bidhouli and arrested him after the alleged recovery of imported liquor.

The arrests concern allegations under the Excise Act. The investigation’s claims about the network, its deliveries and the estimated revenue loss have been attributed to excise officials.

Conclusion

The excise department says it has disrupted an alleged Dehradun-based liquor delivery network serving college students, with the main accused and an associate arrested after earlier action against other suspected participants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Who has been arrested in the case?

Garvit, alias Vikrant, and Aditya Kumar have been arrested. Garvit’s mother and 2 other alleged smugglers were arrested earlier.

Q. Who was the alleged main accused?

The excise department identified 25-year-old law student Garvit, also known as Vikrant, as the alleged main accused.

Q. Where was the alleged liquor network operating?

Officials linked the network to the Bidhouli-Premnagar area of Dehradun, where students lived in hostels and paying guest accommodation.

Q. How were orders allegedly managed?

The department said orders, delivery locations and payment details were coordinated through WhatsApp groups.

Q. What was recovered from Aditya Kumar’s room?

Excise officials said they recovered around 10 boxes of imported liquor from his rented room in Bidhouli.

Q. What revenue loss did officials estimate?

The department estimated an annual revenue loss of around ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore for the Uttarakhand government.

Q. When did Garvit surrender?

Garvit surrendered before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court on 7 October 2026, after the High Court did not provide relief on his anticipatory bail request.

Q. Which legal provisions were cited?

The excise department registered a case under non-bailable Sections 63/72 of the Excise Act.