Since the imposition of liquor prohibition in Bihar in April 2016 by the Nitish Kumar-led government, a total of 190 people have died due to the consumption of illicit liquor, according to a senior official from the Excise Department.
Despite the strict ban on the manufacture, trade, storage, transportation, sale, and consumption of alcohol, smuggling and illegal liquor operations have continued across the state.
Speaking to mediapersons, Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, Secretary of the Department of Prohibition, Excise and Registration, confirmed that these 190 “hooch deaths” occurred across several districts, with the highest numbers reported from Saran, Siwan, Gaya, Bhojpur, Buxar, and Gopalganj.
The department has been actively cracking down on violations of prohibition laws. As of March 31, approximately 9.36 lakh cases have been registered for such violations, leading to the arrest of around 14.32 lakh individuals.
In the same period, authorities have seized 3.86 crore bulk litres of liquor, including both Indian-made and country-made variants. Of the total seized liquor, 97 percent—around 3.77 crore bulk litres—has been destroyed. Additionally, 1.40 lakh vehicles used in the illegal transport of liquor have been confiscated. The department has auctioned 74,725 of these seized vehicles, generating revenue of Rs 340.55 crore.
Also Read: JDU leader quits over party’s backing of Waqf Bill
To strengthen enforcement, officials have adopted modern surveillance methods, including the use of drones in select districts. Furthermore, 33 trained sniffer dogs have been deployed to aid in tracking and apprehending those involved in liquor-related crimes.
Apart from prohibition-related enforcement, the department has also reported significant achievements in revenue generation through land and property registrations. For the fiscal year 2024–25, it collected a record Rs 7,648.88 crore, exceeding the target of Rs 7,500 crore.
In an effort to enhance public convenience, the department announced plans to expand the 'e-nibandhan' digital facility, allowing citizens to apply for property registration services from anywhere in the state.
Also Read: Bihar now a 'university of crime' under Nitish: Congress
Follow us
