Latest news with #BiharProhibitionandExciseAct
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Bihar prohibition: Four-fold jump in drug cases since 2016 alcohol ban
By Chandra Verma Over the last eight years, Bihar has recorded a nearly four-fold rise in drug-related cases – from 518 cases in 2016 to 2,411 in 2024 — a jump, enforcement authorities and doctors say, that coincides with the state's ban on alcohol in 2016. According to data shared by the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of the Bihar Police, the number of those arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, too, went up in this period – from 496 in 2016 to 1,813 in 2024. As of May this year, 569 cases were registered under the NDPS Act and 577 persons have been arrested. The data also shows a significant jump in seizures of drugs such as charas, smack (heroin), brown sugar (adulterated heroin) and doda (opium husk), which, doctors say, are being used by addicts as substitutes for alcohol. Confirming a rise in substance abuse across the state, Manavjit Dhillon, Deputy Inspector General, Economic Offences Unit (EOU), Bihar Police, said, 'Since prohibition, we have seen an increase in the consumption of ganja in rural areas and smack in urban areas. Youngsters in urban areas are increasingly experimenting with synthetic narcotics such as meth, brown sugar and cough syrups (they contain codeine, an opioid).' The DIG said opium, coco leaf (used to make cocaine), manufactured drugs, etc., as defined under Section 2 of the NDPS Act are not classified as intoxicating drugs under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act that was notified on October 2, 2016. 'This means that all cases related to the recovery of these items will be registered under the NDPS Act and not the Prohibition Act,' he said. Doctors of at least two leading government hospitals in the state capital — the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), and the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) — confirmed a rise in the number of persons addicted to drugs, sleeping pills, painkillers and other synthetic substances over the past last six-seven years. At the Patna-based IGIMS, Dr Rajesh Kumar, the head of psychiatry, said, 'With the ban on alcohol, most addicts in Bihar have switched to items that are readily available and cheaper.' Doctors at PMCH and IGIMS confirmed treating at least 200 such patients every month over the last six-seven years. They said most of these patients are addicted to drugs such as heroin, brown sugar, cannabis, smack, doda, etc or inhalants (glue, whiteners, bonfix adhesives, etc). The EOU data on drugs reveals that the biggest jump in seizure has been in the case of doda (from 15 kg in 2016 to 5,235 kg in 2024), charas (from 88 kg in 2016 to 277 kg in 2024, a rise of over 200%), and smack (from 220 gm in 2016 to 7 kg in 2024). The EOU recorded a big jump in seizures of chemical drugs or syrups. In 2016, the EOU seized 29,861 bottles, 5,116 tablets and 4,945 injections against 1.17 lakh bottles, 90,150 tablets and 63,208 injections in 2024. While 126 persons were convicted in 84 NDPS cases in 2017, it rose to 474 persons in 349 such cases in 2024. As of June 2025, 284 persons have been convicted in 203 such cases. The writer is an intern at The Indian Express
New Indian Express
30-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Over 6.4 lakh convicted under Bihar's liquor ban law since 2016; nine awarded death sentence
PATNA: Over 6.40 lakh people have been convicted under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016, since its enforcement, with courts awarding death sentences to nine offenders, life imprisonment to 18, and jail terms exceeding 10 years to 222 others. Additional Director General (ADG), Prohibition, Amit Kumar Jain revealed to the media on Tuesday that a total of 6,40,379 individuals have been convicted by respective courts for violating the prohibition law in the state ever since it came into force on April 1, 2016. ADG said that a whopping 6,38,574 individuals have been held guilty under section 37 (for consuming liquor or creating nuisance at a public place under the influence of liquor), and the remaining 1,805 have been convicted under section 30 (manufacture, sale, storage and transportation) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act 2016. Among the 1,805 held guilty under section 30, 18 individuals have been sentenced to undergo life imprisonment, 222 to more than 10 years, 935 between two years and 10 years, while 621 individuals have been awarded sentence for less than two years, ADG said. A total of 10,85,951 cases have been registered under the new Prohibition and Excise Act between April 1, 2016 and July 3, 2025 across the state. Of them, 4,16,081 cases have been registered by state Excise department and 5,59,870 cases by state police.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Time of India
2 Saran police chowkidars suspended
Chhapra: Saran SSP on Wednesday ordered suspension of two chowkidars for dereliction of duty in a case pertaining to the escape of an accused while being taken to jail. Bajrangi Manjhi and Bhrigu Manjhi have been directed to submit an explanation within seven days against the departmental proceedings. The Saran SSP said that accused Ashok Bin, a resident of Manjhi police station area, was arrested under section 30A of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, but he managed to escaped from police custody on way to Chhapra jail. A case was lodged at Bhagwan Bazar police station in this connection on July 14.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Time of India
Businessman held, liquor seized in Bhagalpur
Bhagalpur: Police arrested a businessman, Shyam Kumar Jain, son of the late Chhotelal Jain, and seized 582 litres of IMFL from his house at Jain Mandi Road, Muri Gali, under Lalmatia police station areas in Bhagalpur city on Monday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A team led by City SP Shubhank Mishra, DSP (City-II) Rakesh Kumar, and police personnel from Lalmatia PS conducted a raid and arrested Shyam. A case was registered under the provisions of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act against the arrested person.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Time of India
Two sentenced to six years jail for liquor smuggling in Aurangabad
Aurangabad: Special excise court in Aurangabad on Monday sentenced two men to six years rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh each for their involvement in liquor trade. The judgment was delivered by additional district and sessions judge-cum-excise court-II in connection with Pauthu police station case no. 14/18 (TR 1233/22, GR 279/18). The court found Kopindra Kumar and Umesh Yadav of Manjholi village under Pauthu police station area guilty under Section 30(A) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016. According to the FIR registered on March 2, 2018, Pauthu police station in charge and investigating officer Arvind Kumar found both the accused carrying country-made liquor manufactured in Jharkhand. Special public prosecutor (SPP), Kumar Yogendra Narayan Singh, said the conviction was based on witness testimonies, seizure lists and the liquor examination report.
