Raipur
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Wednesday filed a seventh chargesheet in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam case. The chargesheet was submitted before the Special Court (Prevention of Corruption Act), Raipur.
The report names six accused, including Niranjan Das, the then Commissioner and Secretary (Excise) of the Excise Department. With this, the total number of accused against whom a chargesheet has been filed has reached 50. Investigation into the matter continues.
Key Allegations and Money Trail
Investigation revealed that during his nearly three-year tenure in the Excise Department, Niranjan Das allegedly made unnecessary and beneficial changes to the excise policy and act. He is also accused of manipulating departmental tenders and deliberately creating mismanagement to benefit the liquor syndicate allegedly led by Anil Tuteja and Anwar Dhebar.
- Undisclosed Earnings: Das allegedly received a minimum monthly share of ₹50 lakh. Evidence so far indicates he illegally received at least ₹16 crore, which may increase as the investigation progresses.
- This illegal income was allegedly invested in immovable properties in his and his family’s names.
FL-10A License and Revenue Loss
The probe validated charges against Atul Singh and Mukesh Manchanda, directors of Om Sai Beverages Private Limited. They allegedly acted as intermediaries collecting and transferring commission money from liquor companies using the faulty FL-10A (Foreign Liquor) licensing policy.
- This flawed policy caused a revenue loss of at least ₹530 crore to the state.
- Om Sai Beverages Pvt Ltd allegedly earned illegal financial gains of around ₹114 crore.
Role of Other Accused
- Nitesh Purohit and Yash Purohit, close aides of Anwar Dhebar, allegedly collected, concealed, managed, and transported cash. Their Hotel Giriraj, Jail Road, Raipur, was reportedly used for these activities.
- Through them, the syndicate is suspected to have handled over ₹1,000 crore illegally.
- Deepen Chawda, manager of Hotel Wellington Court and Director of AJS Agro, allegedly helped in:
- Delivering large sums of cash
- Hawala transactions
- Investing crores in land and properties
- Handling over ₹1,000 crore in cash and gold after the Income Tax raids (Feb 2020)
Chawda also managed money allegedly extorted from other government departments.
All six accused are currently in judicial custody at Central Jail, Raipur.
Accused Named in Chargesheet
- Niranjan Das
- Atul Singh
- Mukesh Manchanda
- Nitesh Purohit
- Yash Purohit
- Deepen Chawda
