On Friday, the Bihar police crushed bottles and pouches containing a total of 60,000 litres of liquor in Rohtas district. The action is a result of the ban on sale and consumption of liquor in the state under the new Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016 implemented by the Nitish Kumar government.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court provided relief to several liquor manufacturers of Bihar by extending the time limit for disposing old stocks from May 31 to July 31.
A vacation bench of the apex court headed by Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and also comprising Justice Deepak Gupta extended the time limit from May 31 to July 31 to dispose of old stocks, including raw material, present in their warehouses.
The apex court heard the submissions and arguments made by Kapil Sibal, senior lawyer of the Supreme Court and counsel appearing for the state of Bihar, Keshav Mohan.
Mohan told the apex court that there was illegal trade going on in the state and no extension should be given.
The new legislation, banning sale and consumption of alcohol, including Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) as well as spiced and domestic liquor, prescribes harsher punishment for possession and consumption of alcohol.