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Jitan Ram Manjhi urged Nitish Kumar to fix flawed liquor prohibition in Bihar, citing corruption, financial losses, and weak enforcement letting smugglers go.
Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. (File images)
Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday urged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take strict action against liquor smugglers, saying that the alcohol prohibition in the state is being undermined by corruption and weak enforcement, even as minor offenders bear the brunt of the law.
Manjhi alleged that enforcement officers catch those who drink moderately, while those who do large-scale smuggling are being let off after taking a bribe. He further said that the idea of alcohol prohibition was not flawed, but its implementation needed urgent correction.
“…We have been saying for a long time that the liquor policy is not wrong, and prohibition should be implemented. However, there are flaws in its implementation. That is why we’ve been repeatedly telling Nitish Kumar this, and we thank him for conducting a third review at our request,” he said as quoted by news agency ANI.
#WATCH | Gaya, Bihar: Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi says, “…We have been saying for a long time that the liquor policy is not wrong, and prohibition should be implemented. However, there are flaws in its implementation. That is why we’ve been repeatedly telling Nitish Kumar… pic.twitter.com/GIbt4I5cMa— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2026
“The third review states that people who drink moderately should not be arrested… but in our state, the enforcement officers catch those very people, while those who do large-scale smuggling are being let off after taking money. Nitish Kumar should take action,” he added.
The Union Minister said that liquor prohibition is causing significant financial losses to the Bihar government, and Nitish Kumar should address this.
Bihar imposed total prohibition in 2016 when Kumar was leading the Mahagathbandhan government. Since then, enforcement has led to more than 8.43 lakh cases and nearly 12.8 lakh arrests, according to earlier reports. Despite the large-scale crackdown, Manjhi alleged that organised smuggling continues unabated, with liquor allegedly being delivered at home in some areas.
Before prohibition, the state earned over Rs 3,000 crore annually in excise revenue from liquor sales. With new welfare commitments — including cash transfers for women, enhanced pensions and electricity subsidies — expected to cost upwards of Rs 28,000 crore, concerns over Bihar’s financial health have intensified. The state’s fiscal deficit stood at 9.2% of its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) last year.
(With inputs from agencies)
February 18, 2026, 21:13 IST
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