Lokayukta arrests Karnataka excise officials for taking Rs 25 lakh bribe

20-Jan-2026

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The Karnataka Lokayukta Police on January 17 arrested three officials from the state's Excise Department after allegations of corruption surfaced involving a bar licence application. 

The arrested officials include Deputy Commissioner Jagadish Nayak and Superintendent KM Thammaiah, who were caught red-handed while accepting Rs 25 lakhh from a man. 

In addition, an excise constable, Lakkappa Gani, was also apprehended by the anti-corruption watchdog.

The action came after a man named Lakshminarayan filed a complaint against three officials who allegedly demanded Rs 80 lakh to grant him a C7 bar licence. In his complaint, Lakshminarayan mentioned the names of Nayak and Thammaiah.

Based on the complaint, the ombudsman took quick action and laid a trap. It conducted a raid and caught the duo of Nayak and Thammaiah red-handed while accepting Rs 25 lakh as part of the total amount. 

According to the officials, Gani, the excise constable, was in charge of taking the money from Lakshminarayan and delivering it to the two officials.