Darbhanga: Photos and visuals of doctor’s allegedly consuming alcohol at a party during the Paediatrics conference ‘PEDICON 2023’ in the dry state of Bihar has gone viral on social media. The incident of doctors partying with alcohol reportedly took place inside the guest house of Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). However, it was interrupted when someone barged in with a camera. Notably, the visuals of the alcohol party were captured on camera. The footage revealed sealed imported liquor bottles abandoned on the floor after those consuming it quickly dispersed upon noticing the camera.
After the visuals of medical professionals consuming alcohol in the dry state went viral, the Darbhanga Police sprang into action. Speaking with India Today TV, Darbhanga’s Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Amit Kumar confirmed the authenticity of the viral visuals. He stated that raids were conducted at DMCH after the video emerged, leading to the recovery of three bottles of foreign-made liquor. Kumar said, “It is claimed that a liquor party was organised on the DMCH campus. All video evidence will be examined and people concerned questioned.”
Following the viral videos, opposition leaders launched a scathing attack on the Bihar government’s claim of making Bihar a dry state. Sharing photographs of the incident, Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) chief Pappu Yadav alleged that the Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) served as an “Adda for sharab, shabab and Kabab (hub for women, wine & dine)”. He also claimed that he saw it firsthand when he was taken for treatment while in jail.
Reacting to Pappu Yadav’s allegations of setting up a liquor den, the DMCH principal Dr KN Mishra added that if any doctor is caught drinking or sees someone drinking then they should tell the hospital authorities. He added that the Pedicon is not an organisation of DMCH, it is organised by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP). In this institution, there are four times more doctors from outside Darbhanga than the number of doctors there, he added. It is important to note that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar imposed a ban on alcohol consumption in 2016, making it a dry state.