Two men travelling on a state transport corporation bus from Tirupati to Hosur were arrested on Saturday after police found 10 litres of illicit arrack in their possession during a vehicle check near Christianpet village, close to Katpadi in Vellore district.
The accused were identified as S. Babulal Kashyap, 25, and R. Bhumesh Kashyap, 24. Both hail from Chhattisgarh and were intercepted when the bus halted at a check post near Katpadi as part of a routine inspection drive. According to police, the contraband was discovered on board the bus during the check, leading to their immediate arrest.
Investigators said the two men allegedly admitted that they were transporting the illicit arrack to Hosur, where they were employed in a private company, with the intention of selling it to workers. Police have not disclosed whether the liquor was concealed in luggage or carried openly, but the seizure itself underscores how illicit alcohol continues to move through public transport routes, often under the cover of ordinary inter-district travel.
The arrests were made by Katpadi Police, who registered a case and later lodged the accused in Central Prison, Vellore. Officials did not immediately say whether more people were involved in the supply chain or whether the seizure was linked to a larger network operating across district or state lines. However, the fact that the men were travelling from Tirupati to Hosur suggests the movement of contraband across a significant corridor connecting Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, a route frequently used by workers, traders and long-distance passengers.
Illicit arrack remains a persistent enforcement concern in parts of southern India, where police periodically conduct vehicle checks to intercept unlicensed liquor and other prohibited goods. Such seizures are often treated not only as violations of excise law but also as public safety issues, given the risks associated with unregulated alcohol production, transport and sale. Authorities have repeatedly warned that illicit liquor can pose serious health hazards because it is produced outside licensed and monitored systems.
In this case, the seizure was made during a check post inspection rather than through a targeted intelligence operation, indicating the continuing importance of routine enforcement on highways and transport routes. For police, bus checks can be an effective way to detect small-scale trafficking that may otherwise go unnoticed among regular passenger movement. For passengers, however, such inspections can also expose the vulnerability of public transport to misuse by those seeking to move contraband discreetly.
The accused are now in judicial custody at Central Prison, Vellore, while the case proceeds under the jurisdiction of Katpadi Police. Further investigation is expected to focus on the source of the arrack, the intended buyers in Hosur and whether the two men were acting independently or on behalf of a wider supply chain.
The arrest adds to the steady stream of liquor-related enforcement cases reported from transport corridors in Tamil Nadu, where police and excise officials continue to monitor buses, lorries and private vehicles for illegal alcohol movement. While the quantity seized in this case was relatively small, officials say such incidents remain significant because they often reveal the local distribution channels through which illicit liquor reaches labour settlements and other vulnerable consumer groups.
As the investigation continues, police are likely to examine whether the accused had prior involvement in similar offences and whether the transport route was chosen to avoid detection. For now, the case stands as another reminder of how routine checks at roadside posts can disrupt the movement of illegal alcohol before it reaches the market.