Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: The Jharkhand government had earlier refused to grant prosecution sanction to the Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) against Vinay Chaubey, then Excise Secretary of Jharkhand, and Gajendra Singh, then Joint Commissioner in the Excise Department. The Chhattisgarh EOW had sought permission after registering an FIR based on a complaint filed by Vikas Singh and conducting a preliminary investigation against the officials.
ACB Steps In, Arrests Top Officials in Liquor Scam
However, the Jharkhand Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has now arrested several individuals, including former Excise Secretary Vinay Chaubey and Joint Commissioner Gajendra Singh, along with several others connected to the liquor trade in the state, in connection with the liquor scam.
In September 2024, the Chhattisgarh EOW registered an FIR based on a complaint from Vikas Singh, a resident of Argora, Ranchi. The complaint alleged that the Chhattisgarh liquor syndicate conspired in 2021 to replicate the Chhattisgarh liquor scam model in Jharkhand. Key figures named in the conspiracy included officials like Arunpati Tripathi and businessmen Siddharth Singhania and Vidhu Gupta.
Vikas Singh further alleged that Jharkhand officials, including Vinay Chaubey and Gajendra Singh, were involved in facilitating this conspiracy, which led to wholesale liquor contracts in Jharkhand being awarded to Om Sai and Deeshita Ventures. These same entities were active in Chhattisgarh’s liquor business and allegedly involved in the scam.
Manipulated Tender Process for Manpower Supply
The tender conditions for manpower supply services were also allegedly manipulated to favor certain firms, resulting in contracts awarded to Sumit Facilities, Eagle Hunter, and A-to-Z. Thus, the Chhattisgarh liquor syndicate, with the cooperation of Jharkhand officials, executed a parallel liquor scam in Jharkhand.
Revenue Shortfall Amid Liquor Scam
Following the recommendation of Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL), a new Excise Policy was implemented in Chhattisgarh on July 1, 2022. The Excise Department had projected increased revenue from this policy, targeting ₹2,500 crore for FY 2022-23. However, the liquor scam led to significant revenue shortfalls, forcing the department to revise its target down to ₹2,050 crore.
In its FIR, Chhattisgarh EOW named not only officials from Chhattisgarh but also Jharkhand’s former Excise Secretary Vinay Chaubey, Joint Commissioner Gajendra Singh, businessman Vidhu Gupta, and several manpower supply companies as accused.
Following its investigation, the EOW wrote to the Jharkhand government in March 2025, seeking prosecution sanction against Vinay Chaubey and Gajendra Singh. However, the Jharkhand government declined to grant permission for their prosecution.
Jharkhand ACB Pursues Case Aggressively
Meanwhile, the Jharkhand ACB has actively pursued the liquor scam. Acting on a PE (preliminary enquiry) registered after a complaint lodged by Vinod Kumar in Chhattisgarh, the ACB subsequently filed a regular FIR.
The ACB has since arrested Vinay Chaubey, Gajendra Singh, Vidhu Gupta of Prism Holography, and Siddharth Singhania of Sumit Facilities. Summons have now been issued to Arunpati Tripathi, then Managing Director of CSMCL and advisor to Jharkhand’s Excise Policy, for questioning. The ACB has also arrested and sent to jail former Excise Commissioner Amit Prakash.
