1,500 litres of chemical to make sanitizer seized in B'luru

The city police seized 1,500 litres of liquid chemicals kept ready to produce illegal hand sanitizer, an official said on Tuesday.

"The Central Crime Branch (CCB) seized 1,500 litres of highly inflammable chemicals Isoprophyl alcohol and acetone, illegally stored in Wilson Garden to make fake sanitizer," tweeted Joint Commissioner of Police Sandeep Patil.

Patil said the two chemicals are highly dangerous to be stored in a neighbourhood without proper precautionary measures due to the inflammable nature.

CCB Deputy Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Jain said Renuka Prasad, 53, was arrested for storing the chemicals.

"In addition to storing so much chemical without proper precaution, Prasad also did not have the permits for the chemicals or to produce hand sanitizer," Jain told IANS.

According to Jain, Prasad was arrested under Petroleum Act Sections 4 and 23 and IPC Section 285 by Wilson Garden police station.

Prasad has been produced in a local court and is currently in judicial custody.

Earlier, the CCB has arrested three men, Shravan, Shivakumar and Dilip Kumar for selling liquor amid lockdown, a banned activity.

The trio was selling scotch bottles at Pai Visata Convention Centre, Patalamma Road at Basavanagudi in the city.

"The three men were booked under Excise Act and IPC Section 188," Jain said.

Similarly, police raided another illegal liquor sale at Vishweshwaraiah Layout at Kengeri in Bengaluru and arrested Biju Varghese.

Police seized 237 multi-brand beer bottles and seven bottles of rum worth Rs 45,000.

Patil also highlighted that many people are indulging in online poker to gamble during the lockdown.

"During this lockdown, compulsive gamblers have got into online poker portals to continue betting and gambling," said Patil.

The CCB conducted raids and booked a duo even as Patil flagged online poker apps such as Callingstation and Playwin247 being used for gambling. IANS