Congress MLA given showcause notice for consuming alcohol in 'dry' state Bihar

The Congress Party on Tuesday issued showcause notice to Vinay Verma, the Narkatiaganj Congress MLA, who was caught on camera drinking alcohol.

According to reports, in the video, the Narkatiaganj MLA can be seen offering liquor to his guests.

He is seen even naming certain brands of India-made foreign liquor which, he said, were available with him.

According to the Bihar Excise Act, sale, consumption and even offering liquor to anyone is an offence. Any person offering liquor is liable for imprisonment from ten years to life and fine of Rs. 1 lakh to Rs.10 lakh.

The Bihar Government had on April 5 banned the sale of alcohol, thereby following the footsteps of Gujarat, Nagaland and Mizoram.

The Bihar Government gets revenue of nearly Rs. 2,000 crores from the sale of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). The state government earned revenue of around Rs. 4,000 crores from country liquor sales in 2015-16.