According to the police, the deceased, Lalu Kumar Biswas alias Raju, used to sell illicit liquor in Chowringhee area of Dompatty, right behind the Kolkata Municipal Corporation office. He was caught selling illicit liquor last night during a raid.

In the police lock-up he underwent a medical examination around midnight but things worsened in the morning when he complained of illness. He was taken to hospital where he died, said a senior city police officer. The body has been kept for post-mortem, the officer said, adding, that a judicial inquest into the death would be conducted. Family members of the deceased were informed of his death later. Officials of the New Market police station said that at the time arrest Lalu was in an inebriated state and after he was taken to the medical college, they had to pump out alcohol from his body.