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Kerala Court Rebukes Police Over 10 ml Liquor Arrest, Cites 'Banana Republic' Remark

The judge framed the 10 ml case as a disproportionate use of police power.

Overview

  • Dhanesh, a barber from Painkannur, was arrested on October 25 in Valanchery after police allegedly found a bottle with 10 millilitres of IMFL.
  • The Manjeri Sessions Court granted bail on November 1 on a ₹10,000 bond with two solvent sureties and standard non-interference conditions.
  • The order questioned the investigating officer’s motives and flagged the accused’s disadvantaged background as a concern in how the case was handled.
  • The court highlighted that Kerala law permits possession of up to three litres of IMFL for personal use and even doubted the feasibility of sampling from a 10 ml quantity.
  • Legal commentators say the case reflects broader excise enforcement overreach in Kerala, and as of November 4 the State Police had not issued a public response.