Bihar mulls confiscating properties of hooch culprits

"Serial hooch tragedies points towards something," Kumar told reporters.

Over 50 people had lost their lives after consuming spurious liquor in Muzaffarpur, Ara and Gaya districts earlier this month.

In Gaya, Rajkumar Yadav alias Mantu Yadav, brother of RJD MLA Surendra Yadav, who is the main accused in the hooch tragedy claiming 12 lives, surrendered before a court today.

Kumar said strong legal actions would be taken against culprits that include confiscation of their properties as per provisions under Criminal Law Amendment Act and Excise Act.

Police would thoroughly probe hooch tragedies in Muzaffarpur, Ara and Gaya and demolish the network engaged in illicit liquor trade, he said.

RJD president Lalu Prasad and his LJP counterpart Ramvilas Paswan have stepped up their attack on the state government for the hooch deaths. The RJD today organised protests over the issue.

"Opposition is acting in a very irresponsible manner on the issue and is trying to spread confusion," Kumar said emerging from 'Janata Ke Darbar Mae Mukhya Mantri'.

Kumar said a ban on liquor was not feasible as proved by the step taken by the Karpoori Thakur government in 1977.

In a veiled attack on RJD, Kumar said questions should be raised to people who ruled the state for 15 years as why tax from liquor trade was as low as Rs 200 crore in their time and which has gone upto Rs 2,000 crore annually now.