Bihar excise raid: 123 litres of illegal liquor seized at Saharsa bus stand, 2 held
Synopsis
Despite a prohibition law in force since 2016, smugglers in Bihar buried 123 litres of branded liquor pouches under a mound of soil at a Saharsa bus stand — a concealment tactic that underscores how the illegal trade is evolving to stay one step ahead of enforcement.
Key Takeaways
The Bihar Prohibition and Excise Department seized 123 litres of IMFL from the old bus stand in Saharsa on Thursday .
The liquor, reportedly in Officer's Choice brand pouches, was buried beneath a heap of soil to evade detection.
Two individuals — Arvind Sah (Saharsa) and Jeetu Kumar (Supaul) — were arrested; a minor was taken into protective custody.
Proceedings have been initiated under the Juvenile Justice Act alongside the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act .
Bihar has maintained a statewide alcohol ban since 2016 ; enforcement drives continue across the state.
The Bihar Prohibition and Excise Department on Thursday seized 123 litres of illegal Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) from the old bus stand premises in Saharsa, arresting two alleged smugglers and taking one minor into protective custody. The contraband, reportedly packed in Officer's Choice brand pouches, had been concealed beneath a mound of soil — pointing to a deliberate concealment strategy ahead of planned distribution.
How the Raid Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence, excise officials zeroed in on the old bus stand location where the liquor was reportedly being stockpiled before onward supply. A search operation led to the excavation of multiple spots, from which the entire 123-litre consignment was recovered. The method of concealment — burying pouches under soil — suggests an organised effort to evade routine enforcement checks.
Who Was Arrested
Arvind Sah, son of late Bahadur Sah, a resident of Mahkhar Ward No. 7 under Simri Bakhtiyarpur police station in Saharsa district, and Jeetu Kumar, son of Siyaram Sah, a resident of Garhbaruari Ward No. 6 under Lokha police station in Supaul district, were arrested. A minor found at the scene was taken into protective custody, and authorities have initiated proceedings under the Juvenile Justice Act and other applicable legal provisions.
Investigation Under Way
Excise officials said the two arrested individuals are being interrogated to trace the source of the consignment, identify the intended recipients, and map out others involved in the smuggling network. A case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act.
Bihar's Decade-Long Prohibition Drive
Bihar has enforced statewide prohibition since 2016 under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's administration, making it one of the few states in India to maintain a near-total alcohol ban. Despite sustained enforcement drives, the illegal liquor trade continues to resurface, with smugglers increasingly using concealment techniques such as burying stock underground. The Excise Department stated that its campaign against illegal production, storage, transportation, and sale of liquor will continue, with strict legal action promised against all violators.
Point of View
Yet the trade has not collapsed — it has adapted. The real enforcement gap is not in raids, which happen regularly, but in dismantling the upstream supply networks that keep restocking these distribution points. Until interrogations consistently lead to supplier-level prosecutions rather than street-level arrests, the seizure numbers will keep climbing without materially shrinking the trade.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Bihar excise raid at Saharsa?
The Bihar Prohibition and Excise Department seized 123 litres of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), reportedly packed in Officer's Choice brand pouches, from the old bus stand premises in Saharsa. The liquor had been buried under a heap of soil to avoid detection.
Who was arrested in the Saharsa liquor raid?
Two individuals were arrested: Arvind Sah, a resident of Mahkhar Ward No. 7 under Simri Bakhtiyarpur police station in Saharsa district, and Jeetu Kumar, a resident of Garhbaruari Ward No. 6 under Lokha police station in Supaul district. A minor was also taken into protective custody under the Juvenile Justice Act.
Is alcohol banned in Bihar?
Yes, Bihar has enforced a statewide prohibition on alcohol since 2016. The ban covers production, storage, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages, and violations are prosecuted under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act.
What happens next in this case?
The two arrested accused are being interrogated to identify the source of the liquor consignment, its intended recipients, and others in the smuggling network. A case has been registered under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, and the Excise Department has said enforcement drives will continue.
Why does illegal liquor trade persist despite Bihar's prohibition?
Despite the 2016 ban and regular enforcement drives, smugglers have adapted their methods — including concealing stock underground at public locations — to evade detection. Authorities acknowledge the trade remains a persistent challenge and continue to conduct intelligence-based raids across the state.
