The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday arrested senior IAS officer Mr. Vinay Kumar Choubey (1999 batch) in connection with the alleged Jharkhand liquor scam, marking a major breakthrough in the ongoing probe into irregularities in the state’s excise policy.
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Mr. Choubey, a senior Jharkhand cadre officer, was arrested following prolonged questioning by ACB officials. The arrest comes amid allegations that he played a key role in policy manipulations that led to significant financial losses to the state exchequer during his tenure as Secretary of the Excise Department.
In September 2024, the agency’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) had registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Mr. Choubey, accusing him of orchestrating changes in the state’s liquor policy that allegedly facilitated a corrupt syndicate’s operations between 2022 and 2023.
According to the FIR, Mr. Choubey colluded with a network of officials and businessmen from Chhattisgarh, including:
- Former IAS officer Mr. Anil Tuteja
- Businessman Mr. Anwar Dheber
- Ex-Managing Director of Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Mr. Arunpati Tripathi
- IAS officer and former Excise Commissioner of Chhattisgarh Mr. Niranjan Das
- Mr. Arvind Singh, another key figure in the alleged syndicate
The FIR alleges that this syndicate manipulated tender processes to benefit specific vendors by altering the excise framework. It also claims they facilitated the sale of unaccounted domestic liquor using fake holograms and supplied foreign liquor unlawfully, thereby pocketing illegal commissions worth crores of rupees.
The scam is believed to have caused massive revenue loss to the Jharkhand government and reflects the deep nexus between bureaucrats and private players in the liquor trade.
This case mirrors a broader investigation that spans multiple states, with Chhattisgarh also facing scrutiny over similar liquor-related corruption. The involvement of senior bureaucrats from both states highlights the scale and coordination of the alleged scam.
The arrest of Mr. Choubey is likely to intensify the investigation, with the ACB expected to question several other officials and business associates in the coming days. The Jharkhand government is yet to issue a formal statement on the matter.
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