MP clears Bill to curb illicit liquor trade, provides for capital punishment

The Bill that provides for the death penalty and fine up to ₹20 lakh for anyone convicted for the second time of making and supplying spurious liquor that causes death

Updated on: Aug 11, 2021, 10:29:53 IST

By Shruti Tomar

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The Madhya Pradesh assembly on Tuesday passed the Madhya Pradesh Excise (Amendment) Bill that provides for the death penalty and fine up to ₹20 lakh for anyone convicted for the second time of making and supplying spurious liquor that causes death.

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. (File photo)

Finance and excise minister Jagdish Deora, who tabled the bill, said the proposed law that has been sent to governor Mangubhai Patel for approval will curb the sale and manufacturing of illicit liquor in the state. “With the amendment in the Act, we are taking tough action. Recently, we raised a dhaba of illicit liquor supplier in Mandsaur,” he said.

The excise law in the state earlier provided for imprisonment of two months to 10 years for those convicted of involvement in illicit liquor trade for the first time and life imprisonment for the second.

Officials cited the deaths of about 50 people after consuming illicit liquor over the last 11 months and said this prompted the government to seek an amendment to the law.

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“If consumption of illicit liquor causes the death of a human being, there is a provision of imprisonment which shall not be less than two years but may extend to life imprisonment and shall also be liable to a fine of ₹five lakh. When the person is convicted under this section for a second or subsequent offence there is a provision of imprisonment for capital punishment and shall also be liable to fine up to ₹20 lakh,” says the Bill.

“In case of liquor is found unfit for human consumption, there is a provision of imprisonment which shall not be less than six months, but may extend to six years and shall also, be liable to fine up to ₹1 lakh. In a case of consumption of illicit liquor caused injury to human beings, there is a provision of imprisonment which shall not be less than two years but may extend to eight years and shall also be liable to a fine up to ₹2 lakh.”

The Opposition welcomed the passage of the Bill. “Everybody knows the mafia became so active during the tenure of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government. During the 15-month tenure of (former chief minister), Kamal Nath, all land, sand, and illegal liquor mafias and anti-social elements went underground as tough action was being taken against them. But they again resumed their work when BJP came to power (in March 2020). Now, they are trying to rectify their mistake by increasing punishment,” said Congress leader Sajjan Verma.

BJP leader Hitesh Bajpai said this is for the “first time any government has come up with tough laws against adulteration”. “Earlier, the government introduced capital punishment for adulteration in food products and now in liquor. Congress leaders believe in blaming... but the BJP government believes in working to bring change in the lives of people.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

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