Pedicon in Controversy: Doctors Face Backlash for Drinking Alcohol in Dry State Bihar, Organiser Booked

Darbhanga: The organising secretary of Bihar (Darbhanga) Pedicon, Dr. Md Saleem Ahmed has now been booked after a video of the attending doctors drinking alcohol went viral on social media.

After the video of drinking in a dry state like Bihar went viral, Bihar Police launched a probe into the matter. As per news reports, the police not only raided the premises of Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), where the conference was held, but they have also commenced identifying the doctors from the video as part of the probe. 

During the raid, the police recovered and seized three bottles of liquor from the premises of the hospital. An investigation team was formed under SDPO Amit Kumar on the directions of SSP Avkash Kumar.

The 32nd Bihar Pedicon 2023 was held at the Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) between December 14 and December 17. The controversy erupted after a video started circulating on social media showing the doctors drinking at the conference went viral on social media.

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Sharing a visual from the video, Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) chief Pappu Yadav wrote on his X handle (formerly Twitter), "There is a separate law for prohibition of liquor for the poor in Bihar and Is there a separate law for DMCH principal and doctors? Liquor was being served at the Pedicon conference in Darbhanga. The doctors were enjoying, the administration was sleeping, how long will this continue??" Along with the post, he also tagged the Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar, asking him to take cognizance of the issue.

As per the latest media report by India Today, Yadav alleged that 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.

The Daily adds that the viral visuals showed a get-together at the guest house of DMCH and the viral frame that was allegedly taken in the guest house of DMCH included the Principal.

In another X post, Yadav questioned, "Who is the administration protecting in the Darbhanga liquor party episode? If there had been someone else in place of the influential doctor, he would have been in jail by now! Who is saving them?"

"All the doctors involved in Pedicon should be examined and those whose body shows signs of alcohol consumption should be sent to jail. Otherwise, all the poor people who were sent to jail because of prohibition should be released unconditionally," he further added.

India Today adds that Amit Kumar, Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Darbhanga confirmed the authenticity of the viral visuals and told the Daily that raids were conducted at the DMCH after the video went viral. During the raid, three bottles of foreign-made liquor was recovered and now a case has been registered against the organisers of the Pedicon.

Republic World adds that after the video went viral, an investigation team was formed under SDPO Amit Kumar on the directions of SSP Avkash Kumar. SDPO Amit Kumar, who conducted the raid operation, informed that the guest house of the hospital had a total of five rooms and during the search of a room on the lower floor, three bottles of liquor were recovered. He further mentioned that an inquiry is being conducted with the caretaker of the guest house.

He further informed the Daily that the doctors are being identified based on the video and after proper identification, appropriate action will be taken. 

Also Read: Open freebies being offered to Doctors at PEDICON 2017: Report