Owner Srinivasareddy, Muralikrishna, Vijayakumar and Babu of Kolar, and Kumar of Tumkur were arrested. Two spirit machines, 18,000 liquor satchets, two cars, 130 cans and other goods were seized.

Srinivasareddy, who was earlier excise contractor, has been running illegal liquor unit in the farm house after the arrack was banned. Another major accused in this connection was Muralikrishna. The accused illegally manufactured arrack in the farm house in Kammaguttahalli and smuggled the arrack into Andhra Pradesh and other places. Machines for the purpose were bought in Hyderabad. Besides, they also sold the arrack in the duplicate satchets with ‘excise department’s licence’ printed on them.

The police team led by District SP Krishna Bhat and DySP Nanaiah, Gudibande Circle Inspector B M Narayanaswamy and Sub Inspector H N Chandrappa raided on the arrack unit.

According to Mr Krishna Bhat, for the first time in the district such a big illicit arrack racket was busted.