 "Now, adult family members of prohibition offenders could be punished in Bihar: Report")
The Nitish Kumar-led government in Bihar is set to bring in several amendments to make defying Prohibition costlier, including making all adults of a family culpable if a member is found to be consuming alcohol, The Indian Express reported on Monday.
The stronger amendments to the Bihar Excise (Amendment) Act, 2016, were tabled in the Assembly on Friday, according to the report; they are likely to be taken up for discussion on Monday.
The report added that the proposed changes would ensure that an arrested offender would not even be granted bail.
All adults of offender's family culpable
According to the report, if the amendments are passed, then adult relatives of a person found to be drinking liquor, possessing or selling it from the premises they occupy would also be culpable.
Confiscating property
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According to the Hindustan Times, the changes also envisage allowing for confiscation of movable or immovable premises if found to be used for storing, consuming or producing liquor.
Additionally, according to the Indian Express, consumption of liquor, its storage and distribution inside the premises of a company will lead to the company owner or its local unit head also becoming an accused along with the offender.
Collective punishment
If the changes go through, the District Collector, according to the reports, will have powers to impose fines on any group of people or even entire villages that are found in violation of the law.
Policemen and authorities not immune either
There are strong provisions for ensuring that the new and stringent laws are not misused. According to HT, policemen and excise officials could be imprisoned for up to three years or fined up to Rs 1 lakh if found to be misusing the provisions of the Act.