Patna: Bihar’s prohibition policy has once again come under scrutiny after State Prohibition, Excise and Registration Minister Madan Sahni publicly alleged that the state’s total liquor ban has not achieved complete success due to the alleged connivance of sections of the police force with liquor smugglers and the liquor mafia.
The minister made the remarks on Sunday while speaking to media persons, raising serious questions over the role of law enforcement agencies in implementing Bihar’s prohibition regime, which has been in force since April 2016.
Minister Alleges Police–Liquor Mafia Nexus
Launching a sharp attack on sections of the police administration, Sahni claimed that effective enforcement of prohibition has been hampered due to alleged cooperation between police personnel and illegal liquor operators.
“I don’t think the Bihar police administration is serious about enforcing the total liquor ban. Had it been serious, the police would not have earned such a bad reputation,” the minister said.
He further alleged that there was “somewhere a connivance between the police and the liquor mafia,” adding that such links were undermining the objectives of the prohibition law introduced by the state government.
Questions Raised Over DGP’s Participation
The minister also expressed dissatisfaction with the level of cooperation being received from the police leadership.
According to Sahni, a recent review meeting on prohibition enforcement was attended by officials from the railways, airport authorities and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), but the Director General of Police (DGP) did not participate.
Sahni claimed that he subsequently attempted to contact the DGP multiple times.
“Later I called up the DGP thrice, but he neither picked up my calls nor called back,” the minister alleged.
He added that prohibition enforcement requires active involvement from the police hierarchy and suggested that the issue should regularly feature in law-and-order review meetings conducted by the state police leadership.
Madhubani Ganja Case Triggers Fresh Concerns
The minister’s remarks came a day after reports emerged from Madhubani district alleging that police personnel were involved in escorting a vehicle carrying more than four quintals of ganja allegedly smuggled from Nepal and destined for Vaishali district.
According to reports, four policemen were subsequently arrested in connection with the case.
Referring to the incident, Sahni said such developments strengthen public suspicions regarding the role of certain police personnel in facilitating illegal activities.
The incident has added a fresh dimension to the ongoing debate over enforcement mechanisms against liquor and narcotics smuggling in Bihar.
Villagers and Women Raising Questions
The minister stated that concerns regarding police involvement are no longer confined to administrative circles.
According to him, ordinary villagers and women have increasingly begun questioning the effectiveness of police action against illegal liquor networks.
Sahni recalled that Bihar’s prohibition policy was introduced following strong demands from women’s groups and social activists who had campaigned against alcohol consumption and its social consequences.
He expressed concern that many women now complain about inadequate enforcement and alleged inaction against those violating the liquor ban.
Excise Department Recovering More Liquor Than Police: Minister
Highlighting what he described as insufficient police support, Sahni claimed that the Excise Department has been recovering larger quantities of illegal liquor compared to police agencies.
“We are not receiving the level of support from the police that is required for effective enforcement of prohibition,” he said.
The minister argued that successful implementation of the liquor ban requires coordinated efforts among all enforcement agencies, particularly the police, who play a central role in law enforcement and intelligence gathering.
Bihar’s Total Prohibition Policy
Bihar became one of the few Indian states to implement complete prohibition when the state government banned the manufacture, sale, transportation and consumption of alcohol in April 2016.
The policy was introduced with the objective of:
- Reducing alcohol-related social problems
- Improving public health
- Strengthening family welfare
- Addressing domestic violence concerns
- Enhancing economic stability among low-income households
Over the years, however, the prohibition regime has faced repeated challenges, including allegations of smuggling, black-market operations and enforcement-related issues.
NFHS Data Shows Rise in Alcohol Consumption
Adding to concerns over the effectiveness of the liquor ban, a recent report of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) indicated a slight increase in alcohol consumption in Bihar despite prohibition being in force.
According to survey findings:
- 16.5% of men aged 15 years and above consumed alcohol during 2023-24
- The figure stood at 15.5% during NFHS-5 (2019-21)
- 0.4% of women in the state also reported alcohol consumption
The findings have triggered discussions among policymakers and experts regarding the long-term effectiveness of prohibition and the challenges associated with enforcement.
Government Yet to Receive DGP’s Response
At the time of the minister’s remarks, the DGP had not publicly responded to the allegations.
According to reports, he was unavailable for comment and did not respond to media queries regarding the minister’s claims.
The controversy is likely to generate political and administrative debate, particularly as the state government continues to project prohibition as one of its flagship social reform measures.
Prohibition Enforcement Under Renewed Spotlight
The latest allegations have once again brought Bihar’s prohibition policy and its enforcement mechanisms into focus.
With concerns ranging from alleged police complicity and smuggling networks to survey data indicating continued alcohol consumption, the effectiveness of the state’s decade-old prohibition regime is likely to remain a subject of scrutiny in the coming months.
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