SAMASTIPUR: A 22-year-old woman and her relative were arrested in Bihar’s Samastipur district after they were allegedly caught carrying around 75 litres of liquor in their luggage while travelling in the air-conditioned first-class coach of a train.The accused, identified as Neha Jha and her brother-in-law Ishan Kumar, were caught on Saturday night when the Delhi-Jainagar Swatantrata Senani Express reached Samastipur Junction, Government Railway Police SHO Birbal Kumar said, news agency PTI reported.“We had received information that two persons on board the train were carrying a large quantity of liquor. Initially, the accused tried to prevent the entry of the police team by bolting the coupe from inside,” the officer said.The police team, however, managed to enter the coupe and searched the huge suitcases being carried by the accused.Several bottles of branded and expensive liquor were recovered, Birbal Kumar said while speaking to PTI.“The accused persons claimed the liquor was meant for a wedding in their family, to be held in the adjoining district of Darbhanga,” he said.The accused were reportedly left tongue-tied when police pointed out that the sale and consumption of liquor is completely banned in Bihar, the officer said.“They have been forwarded to judicial custody and the liquor has been seized. Further investigation is underway with the the help of local police,” Birbal Kumar added.Sources in Samastipur Police said Jha’s family has a history of alleged involvement in the illicit liquor trade and that her father had also been jailed in connection with the offence.Police are examining the call records of the accused’s mobile phones as they suspect their “clients” include well-known businessmen and medical practitioners in Darbhanga, one of north Bihar’s major towns.(With agency inputs)
