“I checked whether he consumed alcohol as reported in media. And, I stopped him as he began gulping,” he said. The minister has been under fire from Opposition parties after he was shown in a TV channel offering alcohol to a five-year-old boy of Duggavati in Harapanahalli taluk.

On Tuesday, the minister  told the media that he visited the village after the media reported that the boy at a young age had cultivated the habit of consuming alcohol. “I told his parents and grandparents not to offer alcohol to him. He would be brought to Bangalore for medication. I will ensure that he gets good education,” he said.

Renukacharya said he would strengthen the vigilance wing in the Excise department to avoid illegal sale of liquor. The government had begun recruiting excise police staff.