Muzaffarpur/Patna: In a major lapse in Bihar, a state where liquor is banned, confiscated alcohol meant for destruction was allegedly handed over to smugglers from a police station in Muzaffarpur. The incident, which took place at Bela police station, came to light when a special police team intercepted a smuggler in Dhiranpatti and found 17 cartons of liquor in his vehicle. Upon interrogation, he claimed to have obtained the consignment from Bela police station, triggering an internal probe.
A private clerk at Bela police station was found to be involved and has been arrested. Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Sushil Kumar has also suspended the station in-charge, Ranjana Verma, for negligence. A special investigation team, led by City SP Vishwajit Dayal and including SDPO Town One Seema Devi, has been formed to examine CCTV footage from the police station and determine if more officers were involved.
The liquor, seized over the past year, was scheduled for destruction on Tuesday. A contractor had been assigned the task of disposing of the stock by burying it in a pit behind the police station. The presence of a magistrate and the station in-charge was mandatory, but Verma was absent at the time. While labourers were transporting the liquor cartons to the disposal site, 17 cartons were loaded onto a contractor’s vehicle and driven away.
Acting on intelligence, a police team intercepted the vehicle in Dhiranpatti and seized the liquor. City SP Dayal confirmed that both the private clerk and the contractor responsible for disposal had been arrested. Further action will be taken based on CCTV footage.
SSP Kumar stated that 17 cartons of liquor were illicitly removed during the destruction process but have since been recovered. He added that a thorough investigation is underway and disciplinary action will follow if more personnel are found to be involved.
