State Excise officials reported that they have caught more illegal alcohol in the run-up to the Assembly elections compared to the amount seized during the Lok Sabha (LS) election period. Authorities attributed this to the availability of water, which is a raw material for liquor manufacturers.

Officials have seized alcohol worth Rs 2.4 crore in the state. Ahead of the LS polls, this figure was Rs 1.99 crore. Total seizures, which include intercepted vehicles, are worth Rs 9 crore, as against the Rs 7.66 crore during the LS polls. Illicit liquor manufactured locally by unlicensed brewers makes up a large chunk of these catches.