Illegal liquor possession: Patna High Court grants bail to suspended JDU MLC Manorama Devi

Patna: The Patna High Court on Monday granted bail to suspended JDU MLC Manorama Devi in connection with alleged liquor possession at her Gaya residence. 

On June 1, the Patna high court had ruled that mere possession of liquor bottle is not illegal as the Bihar Excise Act has provisions for penal action only in cases of "trade and consumption of alcohol" -- thus raising hopes of bail to the suspended JD(U) MLC. 

According to new state Excise Law’ 2016, keeping liquor at one’s residence is illegal and the owner of the house could face jail up to 10 years for violating the law.

The MLC was booked under the new Bihar Excise (Amendment) Act 2016, following the recovery of liquor bottles from her house during a raid in search of her son Rocky Yadav, an accused in the killing of teenager Aditya Sachdeva in a road rage case.

She had evaded arrest for several days before surrendering on May 17 in the Gaya’s court which remanded her to judicial custody.

She is currently lodged in the Gaya Central Jail, along with her son Rocky Yadav. Also lodged in the same jail is her husband Bindi Yadav, a well-known criminal-politician, who is also accused of helping his son Rocky evade arrest after the murder.