Lokayukta traps Excise Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent accepting ₹25 lakh for liquor license clearance

The Lokayukta Police on Saturday arrested senior officials of the Excise Department for allegedly demanding and accepting a hefty bribe to clear liquor-related licences.

Those arrested have been identified as Jagadeesh Naik, Excise Deputy Commissioner (Bengaluru Urban District–8), and Thammanna K.M., Superintendent of Excise. An Excise constable, Lakkappa Gani, has also been named as an accused person in the case.

The action followed a complaint filed by one Lakshminarayana, who alleged that the officials demanded ₹80 lakh as a bribe for facilitating the issuance of a CL-7 (bar) licence and a microbrewery licence. Acting on the complaint, the Lokayukta Police laid a trap and allegedly caught the officials red-handed, accepting ₹25 lakh, reportedly the first instalment of the bribe.

According to official sources, the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent were taken into custody, along with another department employee who was found carrying the bribe amount.

A case has been registered under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018). Further investigation is underway, and additional searches in connection with the case are likely.