Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: The Jharkhand Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) continued its crackdown in the ₹38 crore liquor scam for the second consecutive day, arresting two key officials on Wednesday—former GM (Operations) Sudhir Kumar and current GM (Finance) of the Excise Department, Sudhir Kumar Das. Sudhir Kumar, who is presently posted at RIADA, previously served in the Excise Department.
Ongoing probe deepens
The ACB team arrived at the Excise Headquarters on May 21 as part of its investigation into financial irregularities linked to the alleged scam. Officials said the team sought detailed financial records related to liquor sales and distribution. Upon the team’s arrival, several department officials and staff reportedly vacated their seats and left the premises.
Top bureaucrats already in custody
On Tuesday, the ACB had arrested former Excise Secretary Vinay Kumar Choubey and Joint Commissioner Gajendra Singh. Choubey was picked up from his residence, while Singh was summoned and later taken into custody. Both were presented in court and subsequently remanded to judicial custody.
Massive loss to state exchequer
The ACB has officially stated that suspended IAS officer Vinay Kumar Choubey engaged in corrupt practices and grossly violated norms in the selection of liquor distribution agencies. The agency claims his actions caused a loss of ₹38 crore to the state treasury. The government has also accused Choubey of fraudulent conduct that compromised public resources.
