An official notification was issued by the home department, Principal Secretary (Home) Amir Subhani said.

"It is the first time a DIG rank officer has been suspended for demanding bribe money in Bihar," a police official told IANS.

Last week, the home department sent Alok Kumar's file to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for approval of the suspension order. Earlier, the department had issued a show cause notice to Alok Kumar.

Alok Kumar is a member of the 1997 batch Jammu and Kashmir cadre. He was earlier the senior superintendent of police in Patna.

The government moved against Alok Kumar, who was in Saran, last month following charges of demanding Rs.10 crore from a liquor mafia.

This was unearthed during an investigation by the economic offence unit of Bihar Police.

According to the chief minister office, the government is also decided to repatriate Alok Kumar to his parent cadre.

Abhyanand ordered a probe against Alok Kumar following a complaint by the liquor mafia in January.

Three people associated with him have been arrested. Police seized Rs.5 lakh from their houses.

The Bihar government has started seizing properties of those involved in illegal liquor trade following the death of more than 60 people, mostly poor, in the past two months.

Last year, the Bihar government suspended Ansuia Ransingh Sahu, a 2006 batch IPS officer, on corruption charges.