Raipur, Chhattisgarh: In a major development in Chhattisgarh’s largest liquor scam to date, the state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Thursday arrested retired IAS officer Niranjan Das for his alleged central role in the Rs 2,500-crore liquor scam.
Das, who retired in 2023, served as the commissioner and excise secretary during the period when the alleged scam is believed to have flourished.
Kickbacks, Policy Manipulation, and Transfer Rackets Alleged
According to Amresh Mishra, head of ACB and EOW in Chhattisgarh, Das is accused of enabling a vast nexus that profited from the sale of unaccounted liquor through state-run outlets, earning massive illegal kickbacks in the process.
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Authorities allege that Das-
- Accepted hefty bribes to allow black-market liquor sales through government retail shops
- Manipulated excise officers’ transfers to place favorable officers in key positions
- Tweaked tender processes to benefit select private firms aligned with the syndicate
- Pushed a flawed excise policy that enabled large-scale revenue diversion
“This scam has defrauded the exchequer of thousands of crores and created a parallel illegal ecosystem within the official excise machinery,” Mishra told The Times of India.
Chhattisgarh’s Biggest Liquor Scam Yet
The Rs 2,500-crore scam is being described as Chhattisgarh’s biggest financial scandal involving the excise department. Investigators believe the illegal liquor syndicate operated for several years with political and bureaucratic cover, aided by systemic flaws and deliberate oversight failures.
The probe, which has been ongoing for months, picked up pace recently with the arrest of several middlemen and lower-ranking officials. Das’s arrest is seen as a breakthrough in connecting the scam to top-level decision-makers.
More Arrests Likely as Investigation Widens
Sources within the ACB and EOW suggest that more arrests are likely in the coming weeks, including from among serving officials and contractors who allegedly benefited from Das’s policy decisions.
Officials are also exploring the money trail and examining whether the proceeds of the scam were laundered through shell companies, benami assets, or political channels.
Political Implications and Demand for Wider Probe
The arrest of such a senior retired official has already begun to stir the political landscape in Chhattisgarh. Opposition parties have demanded a judicial probe and called for accountability at all levels, including potential involvement of political leaders during the scam period.
Whistleblower organizations and anti-corruption activists have also urged for the seizure of properties, financial audits of contracts awarded during Das’s tenure, and complete overhaul of the state’s excise policy.
What Lies Ahead
With Niranjan Das now in custody, investigators will seek custodial interrogation to uncover the full extent of the scam and identify other key players. Legal experts say the case could also set a precedent for post-retirement accountability of civil servants.
The Chhattisgarh government has not issued an official statement yet, but sources confirm that Chief Minister’s Office is closely monitoring developments.
