41 lakh illicit liquor seized, 1.84 lakh arrested in major drive: K'taka Minister tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Excise Department has conducted a statewide crackdown on illegal liquor trade over the last two years, resulting in arrests and seizures of alcohol, Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur said on Tuesday.
As many as 1,09,017 people were arrested, and seizures included 13.66 lakh litres of liquor and 27.19 lakh litres of beer, he said in a written reply to a starred question by Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Minister said the enforcement drive covered the financial year 2023–24, 2024–25 up to June, and 2025–26 from July to October, targeting unauthorised liquor manufacture, storage, sale and transportation across the State.
"During this period, statewide enforcement drives resulted in a total of 1,84,570 raids against illegal liquor sales,” Timmapur said.
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He noted that 9,179 non-bailable cases and 91,968 bailable and compoundable cases under Section 15(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, were registered during the same period.
According to him, there have been no reports indicating that students have become addicted to alcohol due to illegal liquor sales.
The sale of alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited under the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the department has issued periodic instructions to initiate legal action against violators, with strict enforcement and investigation measures in place, the Minister said.
Excise officials are carrying out regular road and night patrols, collecting intelligence, monitoring habitual offenders and conducting raids to identify illicit distillation units, unauthorised liquor outlets and spurious liquor manufacturing centres, he said, adding the department is also enforcing the law to prevent the production, storage, sale and transport of spurious, non-duty-paid and unauthorised liquor.
Regular patrols are being conducted on national and state highways, with suspicious vehicles being subjected to checks.
At the district level, standing committee meetings are held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners, and joint operations are carried out with the police and forest departments to curb excise-related offences.
The department is also conducting awareness programmes through Gram Sabhas and in schools and colleges to educate the public and students about the physical, mental and social health hazards associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, Timmapur added.
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Sandalwood actor Mayur Patel booked for drunk driving after chain accident in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: Sandalwood actor Mayur Patel was booked by Halasuru Traffic Police late Wednesday night for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and causing a serial accident near the Command Hospital junction in Domlur, Deccan Herald reported.
The accident occurred around midnight on Old Airport Road when Patel, who was driving a Toyota Fortuner, allegedly lost control and rammed into a line of vehicles stationary at the traffic signal, police said.
At least three vehicles, including two Swift Dzires and a government-registered car, were damaged in the collision.
One of the victims, identified as Srinivas, whose car was significantly damaged, filed a formal complaint. "I was waiting at the signal when a massive thud from behind pushed my car into the one in front. It was total chaos," he said.
After receiving information from the control room, Hoysala patrolling teams rushed to the spot and detained the actor. He was later taken to the police station, where a breathalyser test showed alcohol levels above the legal limit.
Police also found that the SUV was being driven without valid insurance. The police have since seized the vehicle.
"A case has been registered under relevant sections of the IPC and the Motor Vehicles Act for drunk driving and reckless endangerment. The actor was taken into custody and further legal proceedings are underway," a senior police officer said.
Mayur Patel, who has acted in films such as Mani, Udees and Gunna, and was also a contestant on Bigg Boss Kannada, has been largely away from the limelight in recent years.
