In the completely dry State of Bihar, a ruling alliance MlA was caught on camera offering liquor and saying he has different brands in his possession. Even as Congress legislators Vinay Verma from Narkatiaganj denied the charge, the Patliputra police station in Patna on Tuesday registered an FIR against him. The Congress has issued a show cause notice to the MlA asking him to reply within a week.
The sting operation which went viral on Monday, showed Verma offering booze to his guests and also naming different brands of Indian made foreign liquor saying it were available with him.
Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaaj on Tuesday said that the superintendent of State Excise Department filed the FIR. A rid was also conducted at the residence of the MlA but no liquor was found there and Verma was also found missing.
State Congress president and Education Minister Ashok Chaudhary said a show cause has been issued to Verma and asked to give his version. “We will see how to proceed after going through his replies,” he added.
The MlA first claimed that the photo was morphed. later on he said that some journalists called him in a hotel for a discussion on tourism and later on asked my views on prohibition. “I told them that CM Nitish Kumar did a very good job by declaring total prohibition. In rural areas both men and women are very happy,” said Verma who claimed he was teetotaler and vegetarian.
The booze sting on Verma embarrassed the Nitish Kumar Government and the police and excise department swung into action. In Narkatiaganj, Verma’s constituency, police called the MlA but he ignored and police said he was not cooperating.
The consumption or offering liquor even in private is a cognizable offence under the new excise law and the erring person could face ten year to life imprisonment and fine of up to Rs 10 lakh.
The BJP attacked the government on this episode and said it put a question mark on the government’s intention. leader of opposition in Bihar Assembly Prem Kumar said the government should act quickly against the erring legislator and Congress should expel him. JD(U) leader Shyam Rajak said the action would be initiated after the thorough inquiry.
Meanwhile, Health Minister lalu Prasad’s son Tej Pratap Yadav said he was in favour of strict ban on khaini, beedi and cigarette as all of them were injurious to health.