DAYS after the huge outrage over the deaths from spurious liquor in Bihar, the Delhi police crime branch on Saturday arrested the alleged mastermind of the Bihar hooch tragedy from the Dwarka area of the national capital. Identified as Ram Babu Mahto, the mastermind is one the most wanted accused in two cases registered in the Saran district of Bihar in connection with the spurious liquor case in which around 80 people lost their lives.

"As per the information available so far, he is involved in several cases of illicit liquor. He has been arrested from Dwarka area of Delhi. Appropriate legal action is being taken and information about his arrest has been shared with Bihar Police for further action," the Crime Branch said in a statement. The police said that he was previously involved in seven other cases.

Meanwhile, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, facing the opposition's ire over the liquor deaths, has said that the Bihar government is making every effort to nab the accused and take strict action against them. Defending Bihar's liquor ban, Kumar said that most of the people in the state support the liquor ban.

"Government is keeping a close watch. We've been investigating this case right after the incident took place. Majority of people are in favour of liquor ban. I've ordered to take strict actions against the accused," CM Nitish Kumar said, as quoted by ANI.

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According to special Commissioner of Police (CP) Crime Branch Ravinder Yadav, "Information was received and developed by the Inter-State Cell, Crime Branch, Chankyapuri, Delhi that one Ram Babu Mahto wanted in the case related to spurious liquor tragedy in Bihar, may be hiding somewhere in Delhi".

"On the basis of technical surveillance as well as specific inputs, the accused Ram Babu Mahto from Bihar's Doila, was arrested from the area of Dwarka in Delhi. Appropriate legal action is being taken and information about the arrest of the accused has been shared with Bihar Police for further action," CP Yadav added.

Yadav added that Bihar Police was contacted and it was established that accused Ram Babu Mahto is one of the most wanted in 2022 case under the Bihar Excise Act- 2016 registered at Police Station Mashrak, District Saran in Bihar. "Ram Babu Mahto was one of the key players in the entire episode where several people lost their lives. When Bihar Police were searching for him, he fled from Bihar," Yadav added.

Police said Ram Babu belongs to a farming family and has four brothers and two sisters. He is a Class 8 dropout. "Ram Babu claimed that his family is in bad financial condition. However, owing to the prohibition of liquor in the state of Bihar, he sensed an opportunity to make quick and easy money and indulged in manufacturing and selling spurious Liquor," Yadav said.

 

(With ANI Inputs)


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