Can confiscate houses of those having liquor: Bihar minister

Bihar Excise and Prohibition Minister Abdul Jalil Mastan has warned that the government had the power to confiscate and auction those houses from where liquor bottles were being seized.

The deterrent comes in response to the numerous reports pouring in about liquor being seized from various houses across the state.

“Notwithstanding the quantity of liquor found, the amended law under the Bihar Excise (Amendment) Act says that the authorities have the power to seal any house/premises if liquor is found from there,” said the Excise Minister.

The minister’s assertion comes close on the heels of reports coming from Gaya where a cop, who was deputed to prevent smuggling of liquor, was found to have kept 310 bottles of liquor at his home. Though the cop has been arrested and departmental proceedings begun, the fresh ‘threat’ from the Minister has set alarm bell ringing for those who were secretly consuming liquor within their premises.

Bihar, which imposed complete prohibition from April this year, has also passed a new Excise Act, under which (Section 68 G) if any excise officer or a police official, not below the rank of a sub-inspector, finds any offence committed under the new Act, the official may seal the premises. He may then send a report to his superior or district magistrate to confiscate the property/building/house where the offence was committed.

Those who loved to have their drinks quietly within the confines of their homes are peeved over such draconian law as they feel this law could be misused to frame anyone.