In a major crackdown on corruption, the Jharkhand government has suspended senior IAS officer Mr. Vinay Kumar Choubey (1999-batch, Jharkhand cadre) along with Joint Excise Commissioner Mr. Gajendra Singh, following their arrest in connection with a large-scale liquor scam. The action was taken after the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested both officers on charges of misusing their official positions and causing substantial financial losses to the state exchequer.
Also Read: Senior IAS Officer, Based in Jharkhand, Arrested by ACB in Liquor Scam Probe – Know the Details
Mr. Choubey, who previously served as Secretary of the Excise Department and Private Secretary to CM Hemant Soren, was arrested on May 20 after extensive interrogation by ACB officials. Investigations revealed his alleged role in policy manipulations that enabled illegal activities in the liquor trade during his tenure. The scam, which reportedly occurred between 2019 and 2022, involves liquor being supplied from a syndicate in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, to Jharkhand using fake holograms and unauthorized channels.
An FIR was filed in September 2024 by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), accusing Mr. Choubey of making deliberate changes to Jharkhand’s liquor policy between 2022 and 2023 to benefit a corrupt network of vendors. The FIR links him to a high-profile syndicate that included:
- Former IAS officer Mr. Anil Tuteja
- Businessman Mr. Anwar Dheber
- Former MD of Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Mr. Arunpati Tripathi
- IAS officer and ex-Excise Commissioner of Chhattisgarh Mr. Niranjan Das
- Mr. Arvind Singh, another key figure in the racket
According to the FIR, this group manipulated tendering processes, sold unaccounted domestic liquor using fake holograms, and illegally distributed foreign liquor, earning crores of rupees in unlawful commissions. The scam led to a significant drain on Jharkhand’s revenues and has uncovered a deep nexus between government officials and private liquor dealers.
The arrest and suspension of Mr. Choubey underscore the scale and reach of the scam, which has now become part of a wider multi-state investigation. Chhattisgarh too remains under scrutiny for similar irregularities in the liquor trade, further highlighting the coordinated nature of the alleged corruption.
