Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)
Udupi, Nov 11: Padubidri police have arrested four persons for allegedly transporting liquor illegally from Goa to Mangaluru without valid permits. The arrests were made during an operation near the Hejamady toll plaza on National Highway 66, in Hejamady village of Kaup taluk, on Wednesday, November 11.
Acting on credible information received by Kaup circle inspector Azmath Ali, police intercepted a vehicle allegedly carrying the liquor and another vehicle suspected of escorting it. The operation was conducted within the jurisdiction of Padubidri police station.
The arrested persons have been identified as Vinay (47), son of Shanta Nagaker, a resident of Kinnara village, Karwar; Gajanan Mahabaleshwar Naik (45), son of Mahabaleshwar Naik, of Sulkeri Road, Nandgad, Karwar taluk; Sujith Talekere (25), son of Netaji Talekere, of Amadalli post, Karwar; and Lawrence Thomas Mendons (49), son of Thomas, of Shirwad village, Karwar.
Police seized approximately 2,583 litres of liquor valued at Rs 14.35 lac. A Mahindra insulated pickup vehicle, estimated to be worth Rs 5 lac, and a Maruti Swift car valued at Rs 3 lac were also seized. The total value of the seized property is estimated at Rs 22.35 lac.
A case has been registered at Padubidri police station under Crime No. 138/2026, invoking Sections 32, 34 and 38A of the Karnataka Excise Act and Section 336(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police said Vinay, one of the arrested accused, had previously been booked under the Excise Act at Chittakula police station, Karwar Rural police station and the excise police station in Uttara Kannada district.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Karkala sub-division assistant superintendent of police Ishita Gupta, IPS, and led by Kaup circle inspector Azmath Ali G.
Padubidri police station PSI (Law and Order) Shaktivelu E, PSI (Crime Investigation) Anil Kumar T Naik, crime detection team personnel Rajesh and Girish, ASIs, head constables Krishnaprasad, Jeevan, Satish Belle and Shivananada Poojary, Padubidri police station staff member Ashwin Kumar, and constables Sharan, Yasin Qazi, Rehman and Rukmini, along with Dinesh from the CDR division, participated in the operation.