Excise Bribery Scandal Puts Karnataka Government on Defensive
A significant bribery scandal within the excise department has placed the Congress government in Karnataka under intense pressure. This development comes just ahead of a special session of the state legislature scheduled to begin on Thursday. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is preparing to launch a strong attack on the government, specifically targeting Excise Minister RB Timmapur over allegations of his involvement in the corruption case.
Lokayukta Arrests Officials in Sting Operation
The Karnataka Lokayukta police made a major breakthrough on Saturday. They arrested three excise department officials while the individuals were allegedly accepting a bribe. The arrested officials include Deputy Commissioner Jagadeesh Naik, Superintendent KM Thammanna, and Constable Lakkappa Gani.
According to the Lokayukta's official statement, the arrests followed a complaint filed by C Lakshminarayana. Lakshminarayana had applied for a CL-7 bar license and a microbrewery license. The officials had reportedly demanded a total bribe of Rs 80 lakh. They were caught red-handed while receiving the first installment of Rs 25 lakh. All three officials were attached to the Office of Bangalore Urban District-8.
Political Storm Erupts with Audio Clips and Demands
The BJP quickly seized upon the arrests to mount pressure on the Siddaramaiah-led government. Party functionaries released purported audio clips. In these recordings, an official is allegedly heard demanding a cut for Minister Timmapur.
Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka made a direct appeal to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He urged the CM to seek Timmapur's resignation immediately instead of merely asking for an explanation. The opposition plans to use the special legislative session to aggressively highlight this corruption scandal.
Officials from the Chief Minister's Office confirmed that Siddaramaiah has taken the issue very seriously. The CM has already sought a detailed explanation from Minister Timmapur regarding the allegations. In response, Timmapur reportedly told the Chief Minister that some officials misused his sons' names to make illegal money. The minister asserted that neither he nor his sons had any role in the alleged scam.
The Chief Minister is expected to seek further clarification from Timmapur. This move aims to prepare a strong counter to the opposition's anticipated attacks during the upcoming special session.
History of Allegations and Trader Protests
This is not the first time Minister Timmapur has faced corruption allegations. In November 2024, the Karnataka Wine Merchants' Association (KWMA) leveled serious accusations against him. The association alleged large-scale corruption involving the collection of bribes worth Rs 300 to 700 crore.
According to the KWMA, these bribes were collected to issue illegal liquor licenses and to effect favorable transfers of officials. The association claimed that the minister's office collected Rs 30 to 70 lakh for each CL-7 license. They further alleged that approximately 1,000 such licenses were issued in the previous year alone.
Citing widespread corruption and mismanagement, liquor traders across Karnataka announced a one-day statewide shutdown of shops. However, the proposed closure did not ultimately take place. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah personally assured the association that their grievances would be addressed, leading to the call-off of the protest.
Complaint Against Minister Likely
In a new development, complainant C Lakshminarayana is likely to file a formal complaint against Minister RB Timmapur with the Lokayukta. This action could intensify the legal and political scrutiny surrounding the excise department.
The special session of the legislature was originally convened by the government to target the Central government. The focus was to be on issues related to the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act. However, the explosive bribery scandal has dramatically shifted the agenda. The opposition BJP is now fully prepared to use this corruption case to corner the ruling Congress government and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
