The Delhi Police Crime Branch on Saturday arrested one of the key accused in the Chhapra spurious liquor case which took over 80 lives earlier this month.
The accused has been identified as Ram Babu Mahto, a resident of Saran district of Bihar. He was arrested from Dwarka in southwest Delhi, the police said, adding, that he was previously involved in seven other cases.
Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Singh Yadav said that police had received a tip-off which said Mahto was hiding somewhere in Delhi.
The crime branch's inter-state cell worked on the tip-off and coordinated with Bihar Police while searching for Mahto. "As per reports, around 80 people died in these tragic incidents related to the sale and consumption of spurious liquor. Accused Ram Babu Mahto was one of the key players in the entire episode where several people lost their lives," Yadav said. He said that Mahto had decamped to Delhi when he felt the heat from Bihar Police after the tragedy.He was arrested from Dwarka in southwest Delhi, Yadav added.
Yadav further said that Bihar Police was contacted and it was established that accused Ram Babu Mahto is one of the most wanted in 2022 case under the Bihar Excise Act- 2016 registered at Police Station Mashrak, District Saran in Bihar.
The senior officer said that appropriate legal action is being taken and information about his arrest has been shared with Bihar police. Yadav further said that Bihar Police was contacted and it was established that accused Ram Babu Mahto is one of the most wanted in 2022 case under the Bihar Excise Act- 2016 registered at Police Station Mashrak, District Saran in Bihar. Police said Ram Babu belongs to a farming family and has four brothers and two sisters. He is a Class 8 dropout.
"Ram Babu claimed that his family is in bad financial condition. However, owing to prohibition of liquor in state of Bihar, he sensed an opportunity to make quick and easy money and indulged in manufacturing and selling spurious Liquor," Yadav said
Mahto found opportunity to make a quick buck in prohibition laws of the state and got involved in the manufacture and sale of spurious liquor, police said. The senior officer said that appropriate legal action is being taken. Speaking to reporters on the arrest of the alleged 'mastermind' behind Chhapra Hooch tragedy in Patna, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said, "The government is keeping a close watch.