Driver arrested for selling liquor from autorickshaw to football fans at night

An autorickshaw, which acted as a mobile liquor outlet, catering to late-night football fans was seized by the Excise department in Thrissur, leading to the arrest of a 34-year-old man popularly known in the locality as the “Abkari Auto” operator.

Vishnu, a resident of Chennikkara in Madakkathara, was arrested by the Thrissur Excise Special Squad while allegedly selling liquor from his autorickshaw near Kattilapoovam on Friday night. The squad seized six bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), ₹1,500 suspected to be sale proceeds, and the autorickshaw used for the operation.

Under surveillance

According to Excise officials, the accused had been under surveillance for a week as part of Operation Thunder, a night-time enforcement drive. Acting on a tip-off, the team intercepted the vehicle around 8.40 p.m. Investigators said the accused, who had previously worked as a private bus conductor and cleaner, allegedly turned to illicit liquor sales after finding it more lucrative.

Excise officials said demand for the mobile liquor service had surged since the start of the FIFA World Cup, with football fans reportedly calling the autorickshaw for doorstep liquor deliveries during late-night matches. The vehicle regularly plied the Kattilapoovam, Pullamkandam, Kundukad and Chikkakkode route carrying liquor for sale. The accused was produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.