Tejashwi Yadav Alleges Rs 40,000 Crore Illegal Liquor Economy in Bihar

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Nitish Kumar government over recurrent hooch tragedies, illicit liquor smuggling, and alleged corruption in Bihar, questioning the effectiveness of the state’s decade-long prohibition policy. Speaking amid rising concerns over enforcement and fatalities, Yadav claimed that the policy has failed due to what he described as a nexus between sections of the administration and the liquor mafia.

“Prohibition has turned into Nitish Kumar’s biggest institutional corruption,” Yadav alleged, estimating that the illegal alcohol economy in Bihar now amounts to nearly ₹40,000 crore. He pointed out that key enforcement departments, including the Home and Excise Departments, remain under the Chief Minister’s direct control, raising questions about accountability and transparency.

Citing official figures, Yadav said that since the ban, over 11 lakh cases have been registered, more than 16 lakh people arrested, and over 5 crore litres of liquor seized, including two crore litres in the last five years. He added that in 2026 alone, the state seized an average of 3.7 lakh litres per month, which he called “the tip of the iceberg” compared to actual consumption, which he estimated at 17 lakh litres daily.

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Highlighting broader consequences, Yadav alleged that prohibition has contributed to a 40 per cent increase in narcotics trade, with youth turning to cannabis, heroin, and other intoxicants. He questioned how such large quantities of liquor continue to enter the state, calling for transparency in consumption data rather than focusing solely on seizure figures. He also criticised the policy for disproportionately affecting poor, Dalit, Backward, and Extremely Backward communities, who make up the majority of arrests.

Tracing historical trends, Yadav compared the number of liquor shops before and during Nitish Kumar’s tenure. He claimed that while fewer than 500 shops operated in rural Bihar in 2004-05, this number surged to over 6,000 by 2015, alleging that this expansion facilitated widespread access to alcohol before the ban. He described prohibition as a “farce” that allowed sections of the administration to become unaccountable and authoritarian.

The RJD leader also referenced recent hooch tragedies, noting that the toll of the East Champaran incident has risen to nine, with over 15 patients admitted to Sadar Hospital in Motihari, many in critical condition. He called for stricter accountability and action against officials allegedly complicit in undermining the ban, accusing the government of selective enforcement that targets lower-level offenders while leaving senior officials and suppliers untouched.

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