75 litres of liquor, no ticket: Woman caught in AC first class on Bihar train

A 25-year-old woman allegedly involved in liquor smuggling was arrested after she was caught travelling with 75 litres of branded liquor in the AC First Class coach of the Swatantrata Senani Express in Bihar's Samastipur. Police said the woman was travelling without a valid ticket, while her brother-in-law accompanying her was also found without a ticket.

The arrest has led investigators to probe a suspected liquor supply network in Darbhanga, where the woman allegedly posed as a medical representative to supply branded liquor to doctors and other influential people.

The accused has been identified as Neha Jha, a resident of Bari village under the Singhia police station area of Samastipur district. The case came to light after the RPF and Crime Intelligence Bureau (CIB) teams in Samastipur received confidential information from Varanasi about a woman allegedly carrying liquor on board the train.

RPF, CIB RAID AC FIRST CLASS COACH

The action was taken when the New Delhi-Jaynagar 12562 Swatantrata Senani Express reached Samastipur station. Acting on the tip-off, RPF and CIB personnel searched the H-1 coach and reached coupe number seven, which was locked.

After the occupants opened the coupe, the teams found Neha travelling with her brother-in-law, identified as Ishan Kumar. During the search, two suitcases were opened and several bottles of branded liquor were recovered.

According to officials, Neha initially claimed that the AC First Class berth had been booked in Ishan's name. However, investigators found that Ishan too did not have a valid ticket.

The RPF subsequently handed Neha and Ishan over to the Government Railway Police (GRP) after questioning and completing the necessary legal formalities.

LIQUOR WAS FOR A WEDDING: WOMAN TELLS POLICE

During questioning, Neha allegedly told investigators that she had purchased the liquor in Haryana and was bringing it for a wedding ceremony.

Police, however, are examining the claim and are investigating whether the consignment was actually meant for delivery in Bihar.

Investigators are analysing the mobile phone details of Neha and Ishan to establish their contacts and movements. Officials suspect that the probe could reveal more people linked to the alleged liquor supply network.

FATHER, ELDER SISTER ALSO ARRESTED IN LIQUOR CASES

Police have also found that Neha's family has previously been linked to liquor-smuggling cases. Her father, Sanjay Jha, who was earlier engaged in farming, was arrested by Singhia police in a liquor-smuggling case and sent to jail.

Her elder sister Nishu Jha was also arrested by the Darbhanga Excise Department on November 30, 2025, with 21 litres of foreign liquor and was subsequently jailed.

Neha is reportedly the youngest of four sisters. Another sister, Anju Jha, works at a diagnostic centre in Darbhanga. The fourth sister, Anshu Jha, is married to Ishan Kumar, who was travelling with Neha when the latest seizure took place.

Neha had completed her graduation from KS College in Darbhanga, according to the information gathered by the police.

POLICE PROBE ALLEGED SUPPLY TO DOCTORS, INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE

Investigators are also probing allegations that Neha had been supplying branded liquor to doctors and other influential people in Darbhanga while posing as a medical representative.

The police are now trying to establish the extent of her alleged involvement and identify the people who may have been purchasing or facilitating the supply of liquor in the dry state.

The mobile phone records of the accused are expected to be crucial to the investigation as the GRP works to establish whether the case is limited to the seized consignment or is connected to a wider network.