THE STATE OF GUJARAT vs CHEHARAJI JIVAJI KHANT Advocate - V I BHARVAD — 1156/2025

JudegementView PDF

Summary of Case 1156/2025 The Gujarat court acquitted the accused, Cheharaji Jivaji Khant, of charges under the Gujarat Prohibition Act Section 65(a)(a) for allegedly possessing country liquor. The court found that the prosecution failed to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt because: (1) the panch witnesses (required observers) who allegedly witnessed the seizure did not corroborate the police case and either denied knowledge of the circumstances or were police employees themselves; (2) critical procedural requirements under the Gujarat Prohibition (Liquor Samples) Rules 2012 were not followed, including proper sample collection and forensic laboratory analysis; and (3) without independent corroboration from credible witnesses and proper documentary evidence, the uncorroborated testimony of police officers alone cannot sustain a conviction in prohibition cases. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.

Disposed

Principal CIVIL Judge & J.M.F.C

Judgement

Principal CIVIL Judge & J.M.F.C

Evidence Of Prosecution

Principal CIVIL Judge & J.M.F.C

First hearing

Initial hearing scheduled

Case filed

Registration No. 1156/2025