The accused are Shivakumar (28), Surendra (52), both residents of Rajarajeshwainagar, BV Jayarame Gowda (45), R Swamynathan (65), both from Gayatrinagar, Santosh (20), Prashanth (19), residents of Guduginakoppa in Soraba taluk of Shimoga district, Hanumanthappa (24), Kabatur village in Soraba taluk, Hanumanth TM (23), Mugur village in Soraba taluk, Naghabushan (50), Bharatnagar and Prakash (48), Langord Road, said the police.
On September 2, the police on a tip off that some people were trying to transport illicit liquor in a vehicle, surrounded the accused when they approached Jayanna Circle on Waderahalli in Rajarajeshwarinagar. The police arrested Jayarame Gowda, Shivakumar and Swaminathan. The accused told the police that they were going to store the liquor at a godown owned by Shivakumar.

Based on Shivakumar’s information, the police raided a building, a coconut grove owned by one Srinathat Magganadoddi village in Anekal. Srinath and other accused had stored illicit liquor to be sold later. The police also recovered spirit, bottles, labels, cork and five machines used for manufacturing the cork.

Based on Shivakumar’s information, the police raided a factory manufacturing cork at Sunkadtakke owned by Nagabhushan and recovered the materials.

During their interrogation, the accused admitted that they used to purchase spirit from Amruth Distilleries and a person named Lingaraj, and purchased stickers and labels from Sanjay, who used to sell the same in Bangalore and neighbouring districts.

Cases have been registered against Shivakumar and Jayarame Gowda.