Begusarai police have seized 216 litres of Indian-made foreign liquor from a Scorpio SUV that was carrying official-looking government inscriptions, and arrested three people, including the driver, officials said on Saturday, November 14.

The seizure was made on Friday night at Panhas Chowk, under the Lohiyanagar police station area in Begusarai district, according to IANS. The vehicle bore inscriptions including 'Government of Bihar', 'DCLR Bakhri' and 'District Administration', police said.

Daily Kiran reported that officers found the liquor packed in 25 cartons inside the vehicle. The SUV, bearing registration number BR09PA2905, was seized and all three occupants were taken into custody.

Three arrested, SDPO confirms action on a tip-off

The arrested accused were identified by police as Anand Kumar, a resident of Jinedpur village under the Mufassil police station area, and Satyam Kumar and Bittu Kumar, both residents of Sikandarpur Rajauda. The three are alleged to have been transporting the liquor in the vehicle; the allegations are subject to investigation and court proceedings.

Sadar SDPO Prashant Kumar confirmed that police acted on received intelligence and intercepted the vehicle, Daily Kiran reported. Further investigation into the source of the consignment and where it was headed is under way, according to the reports.

Seizure in a prohibition state

Bihar enforces a complete prohibition on alcohol, and police and excise teams regularly conduct vehicle checks and raids against liquor smuggling, particularly around major festivals. Officials said smugglers have repeatedly used vehicles disguised or marked to look official in attempts to pass checkpoints.

Police said the seized vehicle and liquor have been taken into custody and a case is being pursued under the state's prohibition law. No official statement had been issued on whether the government markings on the SUV were genuine or fabricated; that question remains part of the investigation.