Arrack ban vents sale of illegal liquor in K'taka

Bangalore, Nov 15 (UNI) The sale of illegally manufactured liquor is on the rise in Karnataka after the JD(S)-BJP government banned sale of arrack in the state in July this year.

This had led to the State Excise department work overtime to unearth illegal bottling units in many places and have seized thousands litres of rectified spirit used to make such liquor since the arrack ban.

Disclosing this to newspersons here Excise Commissioner Erappa said the department officials had seized more than Rs 1.28 crore worth of rectified spirit since July. This was apart from the seizure of illicit wine, beer and other hard liquor.

He conceded that manufacture of illegally manufactured liquor was on the rise and the department had initiated stringent steps to bust hooch and illegal liquor manufacturing units and arrested 39 people and seized nearly 15 vehicles used for the purpose.

UNI