The Bihar Prohibition and Excise Department has officially introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on February 7, 2026, to change how seized items are handled. This new set of rules aims to bring uniformity to the destruction of illegal liquor and the auction or release of seized vehicles and land. The move follows recent criticism regarding inconsistent practices in different districts, where expensive vehicles were sometimes auctioned at very low prices. The new guidelines set strict time limits for officials to close these cases.
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What are the new rules for seized vehicles and land?
Under the new SOP, authorities are required to finalize the decision on whether to confiscate or release a seized vehicle or land within a specific timeframe. This decision must be made between 30 to 90 days from the date the item was seized. The process involves sending a proposal to the District Magistrate along with reports from the transport officer and liquor test results.
- Hearings: Before any final order, the property owner must be given a fair hearing to explain their case.
- Transparency: The rules aim to stop “paper valuations” and ensure vehicles are not sold for extremely low prices.
- Penalties: In some cases, vehicles may be released if the owner pays a penalty decided based on the liquor quantity found.
How will the seized liquor be destroyed?
The department has made it clear that keeping seized alcohol in storage for a long time is strictly prohibited. According to the new rules, all confiscated liquor must be destroyed within 15 days of the seizure date, once the chemical report is ready. This step is taken to prevent any misuse or leakage of the stock from government godowns.
- Samples: Officials must take two samples—one for the lab test and one to keep safely in the office as evidence.
- Video Recording: The entire destruction process must be recorded on video to maintain proof.
- Supervision: An Executive Magistrate must be physically present at the site when the liquor is destroyed.
