Handcuffs on a dark background | Photo credit: Getty Images
The Lokayukta police on Saturday arrested senior officials of the Excise Department for allegedly demanding and accepting a hefty bribe for release of liquor-related licences.
The arrested have been identified as Jagadeesh Naik, Deputy Excise Commissioner (Bengaluru Urban District–8), and Thammanna KM, Senior Excise Inspector. Excise Constable Lakkappa Gani has also been named as an accused person in the case.
The action followed a complaint by one Lakshminarayan who alleged that the officials demanded ₹80 lakh as bribe for facilitating the issuance of CL-7 (bar) license and microbrewery license. Acting on a complaint, the Lokayukta police laid a trap and allegedly caught the officials red-handed, accepting ₹25 crore, allegedly the first installment of the bribe.
According to official sources, the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent were taken into custody along with another employee of the department who was found with the bribe amount.
The case was registered according to § 7 letter a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988 (as amended in 2018). Further investigation is ongoing, and more searches are likely in connection with the case.
Published – 17 Jan 2026 20:33 IST