Archive · 3 Jun 2025
Excise Department Registers Thousands of Cases, Seizes Goods
The Excise Department, which handles alcohol regulations, has been busy!
Over the past three years, they've recorded more than 200,000 cases related to things like illegal alcohol and breaking rules.
They've also taken goods worth a lot of money and arrested many people, though most were later let go on bail.
A big part of the issue is people drinking alcohol right outside shops.
Some people think the department is focusing too much on the little things and not enough on serious problems, while shop owners feel unfairly targeted.
The Excise Department registered 2.04 lakh cases over three years (2022-2025).
Goods worth over ₹102 crore were seized during this period.
Over 1.92 lakh people were arrested and later released on bail.
Cases are registered under the Karnataka Excise Act of 1965 in categories like Heinous, Breach of Licence Conditions (BLC), and Section 15(A).
Section 15(A) cases, involving public alcohol consumption near shops, make up 1.43 lakh of the total cases.
- Who
- Excise Department officials, residents, and wine merchants.
- What
- The Excise Department registered 2.04 lakh cases and seized goods worth ₹102 crore.
- When
- Over the last three years — 2022 – 23, 2023-24, and 2024-25
- Where
- Karnataka
- Why
- Enforcement of the Karnataka Excise Act of 1965.
Excise Department
Wine Merchants
Enforcement Focus
Excise Department
The department is harassing license holders for minor infractions while ignoring larger illegal activities in rural areas.
Wine Merchants
The department focuses on stronger enforcement at the taluk level.
- Total Cases Registered
- 2.04 lakh
- Value of Goods Seized
- ₹102 crore
- People Arrested
- 1.92 lakh
- Governing Law
- Karnataka Excise Act, 1965
- Cases in 2022-23
- 46,778
- Cases in 2023-24
- 83,425
- Cases in 2024-25
- 73,942