On Dec. 3, the city of Ranchi reported that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has officially launched a probe into a multi‑crore liquor scam that has been dubbed one of Jharkhand’s most serious corruption cases in recent memory. The ED’s move follows a prior filing by the Jharkhand Anti‑Corruption Bureau (ACB), which had opened an initial investigation in May after uncovering large‑scale irregularities in the state’s liquor flow and supply chain.
Under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR No 10/2025). The agency has also secured permission from a special PMLA court in Ranchi to interrogate and record statements of suspects who were taken into custody by the ACB earlier that year.
The ACB’s first complaint identified more than a dozen individuals, including senior bureaucrats, in connection with the alleged scheme. Among those arrested are IAS officer Vinay Kumar Chaubey, retired IAS officer Amit Prakash, Jharkhand Administrative Service officer Gajendra Singh, a businessman from Chhattisgarh named Siddharth Singhania, and Vidhu Gupta, a private company director. Although these individuals were released on bail after the ACB failed to submit a charge sheet in a timely manner, four IAS officers have already been questioned by authorities.
Investigators say the state government had awarded contracts to operate liquor outlets and supply manpower to seven placement agencies. The ACB discovered that these agencies allegedly breached tender norms on a large scale, leading to significant revenue losses. Several bank guarantees presented during the bidding process turned out to be counterfeit.
An internal audit carried out by the Jharkhand State Beverages Corporation Limited estimated the financial hit to the state treasury at Rs 129.55 crore, attributing the loss to extensive fraud and manipulation in liquor operations. With the ED now probing the money‑laundering aspect, officials anticipate uncovering a broader network of beneficiaries and financial trails tied to the scandal.
—LatestNewsX
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