Chhattisgarh Hands Over ₹450-Crore Jharkhand Liquor Scam to CBI; Soren, IAS Officers Under Lens
Raipur | April 11, 2025:After the explosive Mahadev betting and CG PSC exam scam cases, the Chhattisgarh government has now handed over the ₹450-crore Jharkhand liquor scam probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Raipur had earlier registered an FIR in this connection on September 7, 2024, following a complaint by Ranchi businessman Vikas Singh.
The scam, allegedly modeled on the Chhattisgarh excise fraud, has dragged Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and several top IAS officers under scrutiny. Key accused include Jharkhand Excise Secretary Vinay Kumar Choubey, Joint Excise Commissioner Gajendra Singh, and Rohit Oraon—son of former Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon.
No Cooperation from Jharkhand Govt
The Chhattisgarh EOW reportedly received no cooperation from the Jharkhand government, which failed to respond to summons or provide prosecution sanction. As a result, Chhattisgarh has formally sent the case file to the CBI headquarters in Delhi. Sources say a CBI team may soon begin its probe into what is being dubbed the “Jharkhand version” of the Chhattisgarh liquor scam.
Blueprint of a Scam
The FIR details how the Chhattisgarh liquor scam syndicate—comprising retired IAS officer Anil Tuteja, businessman Anwar Dhebar, telecom officer Arun Pati Tripathi, and others—conspired with Jharkhand officials to rig the state’s excise policy. Arun Pati Tripathi, then MD of Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL), was brought on as a paid consultant to Jharkhand, earning ₹1.25 crore to help implement a new liquor policy. This policy paved the way for syndicate control over tenders, holograms, and liquor supply across Jharkhand.
Fake Holograms, Illegal Profits
From May 2022, illegal operations were launched using duplicate holograms supplied by Noida-based Prism Holography & Security Films Pvt Ltd, which subcontracted to Ocular Holography. The same firm was also involved in Chhattisgarh’s liquor scam. Crores were allegedly siphoned off through bogus billing and commissions, while the Jharkhand exchequer bled revenue.
High-Profile Fallout Expected
The FIR suggests a coordinated conspiracy involving state officials from both Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. If the CBI intensifies its investigation, it could lead to political and administrative tremors in both states. In Chhattisgarh, the case could potentially implicate former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma and other senior officials.
The EOW maintains that this interstate liquor scam was orchestrated through official machinery, and demands strict action against the entire network. With the CBI now taking charge, the liquor scam may emerge as one of the biggest interstate corruption scandals in recent years.
More updates to follow as the CBI begins its probe.
