The arrests were made in January and February across the city by the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) and the Prevention of Crime Branch (PCB).

Vadodara Commissioner of Police R P Priyadarshee had issued strict orders beginning 2008, to deal with the menace of bootlegging. “We did not want to give anti-socials a chance and booked them under PASA the same day they were nabbed. We are taking the strictest possible measures to ensure prohibition orders are not violated,” he said.

He added that besides these 31, another six habitual offenders were extradited for offences across the district.

He said among the 31 arrested is one Faij Malik, a notorious vehicle thief, who is accused in at least auto-lifting cases. The police had nabbed Malik a week ago.

The PCB also jailed five women under PASA for smuggling country liquor into the city.

The police said many bootleggers preferred to use women as carriers as they could inconspicuously slip through police barricades and patrols.