Patna: Members of trade bodies in Bihar on Tuesday condemned the arrest of a Chinese national on the charge of possession of liquor.

"Such type of incidents will affect investment in state as traders, businessmen will be afraid of coming to Bihar due to the strict (dry) law," said Satyajit Singh, owner of Shakti Sudha Agro Ventures Pvt Ltd which manufactures processed gorgon nuts. "The police were quick in arresting a Chinese national for possessing liquor, but the police are yet to find any lead on who supplied the liquor to him."

He accused some police personnel of being in cahoots with the liquor mafia.

P.K. Agrawal, president of the Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the state government should give some leniency in the law especially for foreigners visiting state.

"Gujarat too is a dry state but foreigners and those from outside Gujarat are allowed to drink liquor on submission of their identity cards and other documents," Agrawal said.

He also shared an instance when he met a senior Sri Lankan government official. "The official welcomed prohibition but at the same time told us that for foreign tourists and officials the government should make some relaxation in the law," added Agrawal.

The city police have sent a detailed report to the Chinese embassy about the arrest. The fax message, sent on Monday, points out that liquor is prohibited in Bihar.

The fax was sent to the Chinese embassy after Wang Lifeng, economic & commercial consul at the Chinese consulate in Calcutta, visited Patna and met senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaaj and Gardanibagh police station house officer C.P. Yadav.