Excise Scandal Erupts: Calls for Minister's Resignation Amid Bribery Allegations

The political arena was heated on Tuesday as the opposition BJP demanded the resignation of Excise Minister R B Timmapur, citing a multi-crore corruption scandal within his department. The allegations surfaced in the Assembly, with audio recordings and documentation submitted as evidence by opposition leader R Ashoka.

Accusations include bribery for licenses and transfers, with a system allegedly entrenched in corruption. Ashoka claimed the wine merchants' association declared the minister unfit and called for the Finance Department to take over, threatening strikes over the ongoing harassment by the Excise Department.

Minister Timmapur has refuted the allegations, rejecting calls for his resignation. The spotlight remains on the accused department amidst ongoing investigations, with further pressure mounting as Lokayukta police apprehended officials in action, rumored to extend to senior levels within the department.