Incidentally, the SDBA's original demand -- scrapping of a directive on confiscation of vehicles used in bootlegging -- now seems to be on the backburner, with all its members focusing on the defamation suit. The SDBA claims that Solanki can be sued for defamation for alleging at a Press conference that the lawyers were agitating for ``personal benefits''. The DCP, on his part, said he had never used the phrase, but admitted that everyone was according priority to their own interests.

``After the meeting, we'll probably file a defamation suit in the civil court as we were given no concrete assurance on the directive'', SDBA president Ashit Mehta told Express Newsline. The meeting at the course premises at 3 p.m. would also decide on the future course of action, he added. In an earlier statement, the lawyers had said their stir would go on till August 30, on which date the prohibition commissioner was to visit Surat.

``Though the prohibition officials were very understanding, we didn't get the written assurance we wanted, and so, the agitation will continue'', said Ramesh Kapadia, a senior member of the SDBA.

Since the confiscation of vehicles by the department has been challenged by the SDBA, prohibition officials said only a court judgement on the validity of the confiscations would stop the department. ``Let the courts decide on this matter. We can appeal to higher courts and until then, continue to confiscate vehicles used in bootlegging'', Gadhvi told the lawyers who met him yesterday.

Maintaining that the commissioner had not come to Surat just to solve the DCP-lawyers dispute, prohibition officials said his visit had been finalised much before the tussle erupted. Gadhvi is leaving for Ahmedabad on Wednesday after visiting all the major prohibition stations in the region.