Karnataka wine merchants accuse Congress govt of Rs 6,000-crore excise scam

Bengaluru,UPDATED: Jan 27, 2026 12:03 IST

The Karnataka Wine Merchant Association has alleged a Rs 6,000-crore scam in the state Excise Department during the two years of the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government. The association said it planned to write to senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to highlight the alleged corruption.

However, Excise Minister RB Timmapur dismissed the allegations, saying there was no scam and questioning the basis of the claims.

Association president GuruSwamy made the allegations, citing the example of CL-7 bar licences in Bengaluru, which he claimed cost Rs 1–2 crore depending on the area.

The CL-7 licence is issued to hotels and boarding houses in Karnataka and permits them to serve liquor to customers and residents.

GuruSwamy further alleged that the money goes not only to the Excise Minister but also to officials, and that the rates are fixed by those in charge.

“We have informed the Chief Minister several times, and he said he would call the department officers for a meeting. But we are completely fed up with this system,” he said.

Responding to the charges, Timmapur said, “Is there any proof of these allegations? There is no scam. I will answer this on the floor of the House. On what basis are they making these claims? Is there any evidence?”

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