Police commissioner Shankar M Bidari, on Sunday, externed a couple involved in selling illicit liquor for a year from the city.

Munnibhai, 41, and her rowdy-husband Barmoji Rao were externed following a probe based on Devarajeevanahalli residents complaints against their illegal business, deputy commissioner of police (East) BK Singh said.

The couple have 11 cases, including four regarding selling hooch, against them. Additionally, the excise department has booked them in seven cases. The couple was living at Basappa Line in Devarajeevanahalli.

DCP Singh said that externment is the best way to keep bad elements away from the city. "The order can be challenged before the High Court, but the couple had to defend themselves. But under the Goonda Act, the authority who orders banishment has to defend his order."

Former superintendent of police SV Shashidhar felt notorious elements have many avenues to escape externment. He advocated invoking the provisions of Karnataka Organised Crime Control Act, which has more teeth than externment. "The provisions of this Act are so strong that nobody can escape the order since there are no provisions for appeal under this Act," he said.

In the 1980s, notorious underworld don Kotwal Ramachandra was externed from the city. He appealed in court, which revoked the externation order.

MK Madhusoodan/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication