India News | Arrested Bootlegger Dies While Being Taken to Court in Bihar, Family Claims Custodial Torture

Muzaffarpur (Bihar), June 19 (PTI) A person arrested for trading in illicit liquor, in violation of the prohibition law in Bihar, died on Thursday while being taken to the court for obtaining remand, an official said.

According to Muzaffarpur excise inspector Deepak Singh, accused Balendra Rai was arrested on Wednesday from Bhawanidih village in the district.

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"Rai had been found to be in possession of six litres of spurious liquor. Today, he was to be produced before court. On the way, he fell sick and started vomiting blood. He was rushed to Sadar hospital where he breathed his last", Singh said.

Family members of Rai, including his brother Nagendra, have blamed the death on "custodial torture".

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However, when journalists asked the excise inspector about the allegation, he said, "You all can see the medical report which clearly states that Rai had no injury marks on his body. He was one of those petty criminals against whom no use of force is required".

"The exact cause of death will be known after post-mortem examination. It does appear, though, that he was himself a habitual drinker and consumption of spurious liquor had seriously affected his health", added Singh.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)