BJP MP’s son found drunk in Bihar; jailed

The police of dry State Bihar have arrested Rahul Kumar, son of BJP MP Hari Manjhi after he was found consuming liquor with his friends in Gaya.

Manjhi is a Lok Sabha member from Gaya. His son was apprehended when the Gaya Police raided Nava village in Bodh Gaya where Rahul was having liquor with his close friends. He was sent for medical test, which confirmed he was drunk. The MP’s son was produced in the local court which remanded him to judicial custody.

Bihar became a dry State in April 2016 after which consumption or sale of liquor is a non-bailable offence.

The BJP MP, Manjhi, however, said that his son had been implicated by his political rivals to settle scores, just a year before the 2019 parliamentary polls. Hari Manjhi had defeated former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi (then in the JD-U) during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Charge baseless

“Hari Manjhi’s charges are baseless as the government in Bihar is run with the support of the BJP,” said RJD MLA Bhai Birendra. The Opposition legislator questioned Nitish regime’s claim that there was complete prohibition in Bihar. “Till a few months back, there was a system of ‘home delivery’ of liquor. With people ready to shell out more money, now there is a system of ‘bedroom delivery’. The administration, as well as the cops, are aware of the illegal trade,” he argued.

The BJP, however, distanced itself from the party MP’s charge and said, “anyone found violating prohibition will be dealt with severely.”

Its alliance partner, the JD (U), was also quick to rebut Hari Manjhi. “In Bihar, there is a rule of law. So, even if a BJP MP’s son is found drunk, he will be put behind bars. The law is equal for everyone,” said JD (U) spokesperson and party MLC Neeraj Kumar here on Monday.