The prohibition law is once again in the headlines amid Bihar Assembly elections 2025. This time the case is not of any common person, but of former BJP MLA from Uttar Pradesh Dhananjay Kannaujiya, who has been arrested with three cans of beer in Bihar. After the arrest, the administration has sent him and his driver to jail in judicial custody. This incident not only reflects Bihar's strict prohibition policy but also sends the message that now is the era of "no VIP relaxation".
This entire matter is of Nautan police station area of West Champaran district, which is an area adjacent to the India-Nepal border. An intensive vehicle checking operation was going on at Mangalpur check post late on Friday evening. During this time a black SUV car was stopped for investigation. On searching the car, three cans of beer were recovered from the bag kept near the driver's seat. When questioned by officials, the driver and the passenger remained evasive at first. But when Magistrate Vikas Kumar and the police showed strictness, the rider identified himself as Dhananjay Kannaujiya, former BJP MLA from Balthra Road seat in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh.
Nautan police station incharge Pramod Kumar Paswan said that the recovery took place in the presence of the magistrate. A case has been registered against former MLA Dhananjay Kannaujia and his driver Dilip Singh (resident- Rajpur Palia, Ballia) under strict sections of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act. According to police sources, under this Act, arrest is mandatory if caught with liquor or drugs and it is extremely difficult to get bail. Therefore, both the accused were sent to judicial custody on Saturday.
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Dhananjay Kannaujia is an active leader of Uttar Pradesh BJP and former MLA from Balthra Road assembly seat of Ballia district. It is being told that he had come to Bihar so that he could campaign for the NDA candidates. During the election season, the movement of people to and from Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Nepal increases in the border districts. But this step of Bihar administration has become a strict example of zero tolerance policy on liquor prohibition this time.
Administrative officials say that after the implementation of the election code of conduct, checkposts and checkpoints have been activated in every district and border in the state. A joint team of SSB and local police is continuously monitoring the border areas to stop liquor smuggling. No political pressure was considered in this case, and the action was taken strictly within the legal process.
