Seven officials from the Kerala Excise Department have been placed under suspension following the discovery of a bribery racket. The disciplinary action was initiated by Excise Commissioner Seeram Sambasiva Rao, who acted upon specific directives issued by Excise Minister M Liju.

The suspensions come in the wake of a sting operation that reportedly exposed corrupt practices within the department. While the official order confirms the suspension of the seven individuals, the department has not yet released the specific names of the officers or the exact nature of the bribes they were accused of soliciting. The move is being framed by state authorities as a necessary step toward maintaining departmental integrity and accountability.

At this stage, the investigation remains in its early phases. Authorities have indicated that further inquiries will be conducted to determine the full extent of the racket and whether additional personnel were involved. The state government has emphasized a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, though details regarding the timeline of the sting operation and the evidence collected remain limited. As of now, no criminal charges have been publicly filed against the suspended officers, and the focus remains on the internal administrative disciplinary process.