Raipur
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Jharkhand has sought permission to interrogate Arun Pati Tripathi, an accused in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam. Tripathi, former Special Secretary of the Chhattisgarh Excise Department, is facing increased scrutiny as the Jharkhand ACB filed an application for a production warrant in a Ranchi special court. This development is linked to the high-profile liquor scam in Jharkhand.
On Saturday, the ACB Ranchi team submitted its application for a production warrant in the court of Special Judge Yogesh Kumar Singh. Once the application is approved, the Jharkhand ACB team will take Tripathi to Ranchi for questioning. Tripathi is accused of conspiring to orchestrate a liquor scam similar to the one in Chhattisgarh, as he was involved in designing Jharkhand’s new liquor policy.
Accusations of Chhattisgarh-like Scam in Jharkhand
It is alleged that suspended Jharkhand IAS officer Vinay Kumar Chaubey, in collaboration with AP Tripathi, conspired to replicate the Chhattisgarh liquor scam in Jharkhand. The Jharkhand ACB has already arrested eight individuals, including Vinay Chaubey, in connection with this case. Authorities believe that Tripathi’s interrogation could reveal more prominent names involved in the Jharkhand liquor scam.
Tripathi’s Role in Liquor Policy Under Scrutiny
The Jharkhand ACB alleges that AP Tripathi was instrumental in designing the new liquor policy implemented in Jharkhand, which was reportedly inspired by the Chhattisgarh model. It is further alleged that this policy facilitated a large-scale scam, resulting in losses of crores of rupees to the state exchequer.
Tripathi’s Prior Release on Bail
Tripathi was released on bail by the Supreme Court in April 2025. He had been in jail for an extended period following action by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam. With the Jharkhand ACB’s production warrant, his legal troubles are likely to escalate again.
Who is Arun Pati Tripathi?
Arun Pati Tripathi previously served as Special Secretary of the Chhattisgarh government’s Excise Department and was also the Managing Director of Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL). Originally an Indian Telecom Service officer, Tripathi was on deputation in Chhattisgarh.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a case against him on October 5, 2024, in a special court in Raipur, regarding his alleged role in the liquor scam. The court took cognisance of the matter the same day, but the High Court quashed the PMLA court’s cognisance on February 7, 2025. Tripathi had been in judicial custody since August 8, 2024.
Understanding the Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam
The ED is investigating the Chhattisgarh liquor scam. The agency has filed an FIR with the ACB, alleging a scam exceeding Rs 2,000 crore. The ED’s investigation suggests that the scam was executed through a syndicate comprising then-Bhupesh Baghel government’s IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Excise Department MD AP Tripathi, and businessman Anwar Dhebar.
