IMFL worth Rs 1.20 crore being smuggled to Bihar seized in UP; 2 arrested
Chandauli (UP) (PTI): Over 710 cartons of Indian-made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth about Rs 1.20 crore being smuggled to Bihar, where alcoholic beverages are banned, was seized in Uttar Pradesh's Chandauli and two smugglers were arrested, police said on Sunday.
Circle Officer (Sadar) Devendra Kumar said the consignment of liquor was being transported from Noida to Bihar via Chandauli.
Acting on a tip off, the police team intercepted a truck during checking near a petrol pump at Barthi Kamarour on National Highway-19.
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During inspection, sacks of putty were found loaded in the truck, and a search revealed 710 cartons of IMFL concealed behind them, he said, adding that the liquor is worth about Rs 1.20 crore.
The police arrested the truck driver, identified as Ali Bakhsh (27), a resident Jharkhand's Dumka. Another accused, Murtaz Ansari (40), a resident of Deoghar district, was also nabbed along with a Mahindra Bolero that was allegedly being used to provide location updates to the truck, the officer said.
A case has been registered against the accused under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Excise Act, and further legal proceedings are underway, the police added.
The Bihar government in 2016 enforced a complete ban on the manufacture, trade, storage, transportation, sale, and consumption of liquor in the state.
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Surjewala slams Pratap Simha’s ‘vile’ remarks on CM Siddaramaiah, demands apology from BJP
Bengaluru (PTI): Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over alleged disparaging remarks made by former Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during an assembly bypoll campaign in Bagalkote.
Simha made the remarks while campaigning for BJP candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath, triggering a political row ahead of the by-elections scheduled for April 9.
Congress has fielded Umesh Meti, son of former MLA late M Y Meti, whose death necessitated the bye-election.
"Pratap Simha's vile remarks about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot have exposed the BJP's despicable politics once again," Surjewala said in a social media post.
Alleging a larger political design, he added, "It is increasingly evident that Pratap Simha’s outburst is driven by desperation," and accused the BJP of using such remarks to target backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and minorities.
The Rajya Sabha member further claimed that the incident reflects a pattern within the party. "This is not one man's madness—it is the BJP’s political culture," he said, adding that the remarks were aimed at "denigrating leaders from marginalised communities".
Referring to past incidents, Surjewala said, "CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar have received death threats in the past, including one from BJP leaders who warned that their bodies would be stuffed into a refrigerator."
The Congress leader also criticised the BJP’s bypoll campaign strategy, alleging "internal contradictions".
He pointed to the party’s use of expelled MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in campaigning despite earlier disciplinary action against him, accusing the BJP of resorting to "abuses and indignities" against opposition leaders.
Surjewala demanded immediate action from the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, state president B Y Vijayendra, and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.
He said they must tender a public apology to Kannadigas, particularly to OBCs, SCs, and minorities, over the remarks, and urged the party to expel Simha if it does not repudiate his statements.
Surjewala also called for legal action, demanding that an FIR be registered against Simha and that strict measures be taken.
Warning of "political consequences", he said the electorate in the bypoll-bound constituencies would respond decisively if the BJP failed to apologise, asserting that voters would "teach the BJP a befitting lesson" in the elections.
There has been no immediate reaction from the saffron party yet.
