Patna: A sub-inspector of police posted as station house officer (SHO) in Begusarai was put under suspension and department proceedings were initiated against him for his alleged links with the liquor mafia, police said on Thursday.

Sumit Kumar, the SHO of Bachchwara in Begusarai, was suspended by superintendent of police Aditya Kumar after he received complaints about Sumit on his close connections with the liquor mafia and releasing a truck carrying liquor from the police station.

Aditya assigned a deputy superintendent of police to keep a watch on the activities of Bachchwara SHO ever since he came to know about the smooth passage of vehicle carrying liquor from the area falling under the jurisdiction of Bachchwara police station.

A couple of days ago, a truck loaded with liquor from Haryana, met with an accident near Shamipur under the jurisdiction of Bachchwara police station, around 90km northeast of Patna. The SHO not only released the truck from the police station but also allegedly helped the trader to sell the consignment.

"The SHO was put under suspension on the basis of the report of the sub-divisional police officer, who was asked to conduct a detailed investigation," Aditya said over the phone from Begusarai. He didn't rule out the involvement of other cops posted at the same police station.

The disciplinary action was initiated a day after chief minister Nitish Kumar reiterated his resolve at a public meeting in Sitamarhi that stern action will be initiated against those involved in flouting the provisions of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016.

The state government has created a special cell at the police headquarters to enforce the proper implementation of the new law. On Sunday Gaya MP Hari Manjhi's son Rahul Manjhi and his friend was arrested in drunken state and sent to Gaya Central Jail.