Bihar Prohibition Report: 17 Lakh Arrested as State Completes 10 Years of Liquor Ban
PATNA — Ten years after the historic implementation of the liquor ban in Bihar, the State government has released staggering figures highlighting both the scale of enforcement and the persistence of violations. Since April 1, 2016, over 17.18 lakh individuals have been arrested for violating the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act.
The Numbers: A Decade of Enforcement
During a press briefing on Monday, Deputy Chief Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav provided a detailed breakdown of the enforcement actions taken by the police and the Excise Department.
- Total Arrests: 17,18,058 people.
- Police arrests: 9,42,079
- Excise Department arrests: 7,75,979
- Total Cases Lodged: 11,37,731 cases.
- Liquor Seized: A massive 4.83 crore litres of liquor have been recovered jointly by the two agencies over the last decade.
High-Tech Surveillance: Drones and Sniffer Dogs
To combat the illegal liquor trade in the state’s difficult terrains—including the diara (riverine) areas and dense orchards—the department has significantly scaled up its technical surveillance.
- Drone Operations: 42 drones are currently operational across the State to track illegal manufacturing units.
- Sniffer Dogs: Specialized canine units are being used to detect hidden consignments.
- Increased Public Vigilance: The department reported a surge in public participation, with call centres now receiving 300-400 complaints daily, a sharp rise from the 70-80 calls received in previous years.
Beyond Prohibition: The Shift to ‘Paperless’ Bihar
In addition to the prohibition updates, Deputy CM Yadav, who also holds the Registration portfolio, announced a major reform in property management. The State Cabinet has approved the ‘Bihar Nibandhan Niyamawali 2026’ (Bihar Registration Rules 2026).
The new rules aim to make the property registration process entirely paperless, reducing corruption and streamlining the experience for citizens at registration offices across Bihar.