Ranchi, July 3: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday arrested Vidhu Gupta, Managing Director of Prism Holography, in connection with the ₹70 crore liquor scam in Jharkhand, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation.
Gupta, a resident of Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, is the eighth person to be arrested in the case linked to FIR No. 09/25, registered on May 20. The scam, which bears similarities to a previous liquor-related corruption case in Chhattisgarh, involves large-scale embezzlement of public funds through fraudulent contracts and forged documentation.
According to ACB officials, Gupta’s firm allegedly deployed ghost workers via manipulated manpower contracts with the Jharkhand State Beverages Corporation Limited (JSBCL) and various liquor license holders. The fraudulent arrangement included submission of fake employee details and inflated salary claims, enabling misappropriation of government funds.
Businessman Siddharth Singhania, who is already in custody, is said to have introduced Gupta and his company as part of what officials described as an “illegal manpower model” operational in the state. Investigators believe Prism Holography was brought in under rigged tenders to implement the scheme.
The ACB suspects the existence of a broader network involving contractors, excise officials, and manpower agencies across multiple states. Gupta’s arrest is being viewed as a potential turning point in unraveling the network. Officials indicated that additional arrests are likely as the investigation progresses.
