Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Dec 12: In a significant operation led by excise department deputy commissioner T M Srinivas, excise department sleuths have successfully cracked a case of an inter-state illicit liquor racket at Talapady, situated on the border of Kerala and Karnataka states. The dedicated personnel managed to apprehend three suspects, while one accused managed to evade arrest during the operation. The raid resulted in the confiscation of 2,240 litres of spirit, fake brandy, and illicit liquor.

The seized items included 2,240 litres of spirit, 222 litres of fake brandy, and a machine used for packing counterfeit liquor from a residence in Santya, within Kinya panchayat limits. Additionally, 210 litres of spirit, 20 litres of fake brandy, 2.24 litres of fake Prestige whisky, an Innova car carrying 70 litres of spirit were seized from a house near Talapady mosque.

The arrested individuals were identified as Sathish Talapady, residing near Talapady mosque, and Kunjathoor residents Naushad and Ansif. Another accused, Nithyananda Bhandary, managed to escape during the raid at Pranthya.

Expressing suspicions that the illicit business had been ongoing for several years, given the short distance from the raided house to the Kerala national highway, the excise department personnel are confident in identifying the source of the spirit and the network involved in its transportation.

The raid, conducted late at night, revealed more than 60 cans filled with spirit at Nithyananda Bhandary's residence in Santya. Fake liquor stored in bottles beyond the expiry date and brandy in branded plastic packets were also discovered. An individual attempting to dissuade the team from registering the case near Talapady mosque was later found to be involved in the illicit business. Subsequently, the team raided the residence of Sathish Talapady, uncovering additional spirit, a car prepared for liquor transport, and plastic cans for packaging. Sathish Talapady, along with accomplices Naushad and Ansif, were taken into custody.

The excise department carried out the operation under the guidance of Mangaluru division excise department DSP Sayyed Tafzilulla, with leadership from Mangaluru division joint commissioner Nagarajappa T and south zone-2 excise department inspector Kamala H N. The team remains committed to identifying the full extent of the illicit liquor network after the arrest of all the accused.