A government school teacher, who was awarded by President Pranab Mukherjee last year, was arrested in Samastipur for allegedly violating the prohibition law.

The teacher, Vikas Kumar alias Saurabh Kumar, and two others were caught by a police team while they were allegedly drinking in a pathological lab located at Adarsh Nagar in Samastipur town, around 100km northeast of Patna, on Tuesday.

Vikas, who was posted as headmaster of Lagunia Suryakanth upgraded government middle school, was awarded by the President on September 2 last year for his outstanding contribution in the field of education.

Vikas, along with Dharmesh Kumar, another teacher, and a local trader Pankaj Kumar, were taken to the Sadar hospital for a test. The doctor on duty B.P. Rai, who submitted his report on Wednesday, said the test was positive. The medical report revealed that 30-40 per cent of alcohol was found during the test.

Samastipur superintendent of police (SP) Nawal Kishore Singh said the trio were produced in a local court, which remanded them to judicial custody for 14 days. They have been booked under relevant sections of the New Excise Act, the SP said.

He revealed that the raid was conducted on the lab, Patho Care, following a tip-off that some people were consuming liquor. During the raid, the team led by sub-inspector S. Kumar recovered empty bottles of alcohol, glasses and chakhna (snacks).

A complaint was lodged with the Mufassil police station on the statement of Kumar.

As the news about the arrest of the President awardee spread, a number of representatives of a teachers' association and residents reached the Mufassil police station and pressured the station house officer to release him from the police lock-up.

The officials posted at the Mufassil police station, however, didn't budge to pressure and sent the trio to jail. "The behaviour of the arrested teacher has raised question on the credibility of the education department officials, who had recommended his name for the President's award," said a lawyer N.K. Singh.

Education minister Ashok Choudhary could not be contacted for his comment despite repeated attempts on Wednesday.

So far 20,000 people have been arrested for violating the provisions of Amended Excise Act, 2016. However, such an incident (arrest of a President awardee) has come to the fore for the first time after the state came under total prohibition.