Illegal liquor seized in poll-bound K’taka; three booked

Muddebihal: The Excise Department officials seized liquor worth Rs 86,000 reportedly transported from Goa in a bid to lure voters ahead of the Karnataka elections on May 10.

A case has been booked against three persons — Shivappa Ramanna Vanakihala, Ramesh Hamanantha Harana and Hamanantha Basappa Harana of Kavadimatti village in this regard. The accused were found to be in possession of nearly 560 bottles of 180ml cheap Goa made liquor.

Sources said that the accused were workers of a national party and the liquor, named Royal Blue Malt Whiskey, was brought at the behest of the party leader for distributing to voters in an attempt to influence them.

Sources further said that those who consumed the liquor fell ill. An Excise department official, on condition of anonymity, cautioned public against consuming the liquor