The Narcotics department of Lalmonirhat arrested three people for possessing Indian wine in sadar upazila on Tuesday, but then allegedly took a bribe to free the prime accused.
The three arrestees were local doctor Aynal Haque, 48, and his two associates Ruhul Amin Babu, 42, and Shafiqul Islam, 18, all of Durakuti Karnopur village in sadar upazila, Lalmonirhat.
Locals said a team of narcotics department officials led by Inspector Anowarul Habib raided the Durakuti area on Tuesday night and found the trio with five bottles of Indian wine as they were returning from the Mogholhat border by motorcycle.
The officials seized the bottles and the motorcycle, and arrested all three before later freeing Aynal.
The family of Ruhul and Shafiqul claimed Aynal was spared detention as officials “got a handsome bribe from him.”
Inspector Anowarul said: “We have freed the village doctor as we got political pressure and threat from local leaders.
“The two others were sent to jail because they did not have that kind of recommendations.”
They informed the matter to the higher authorities, he added.