Ranchi, Mar 31: The alleged ₹750-crore liquor scam in Jharkhand has triggered a political storm, with Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi urging Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar to order a CBI probe and intervene over what he termed “serious lapses” in the investigation.
In a memorandum submitted after meeting the Governor on Tuesday, Marandi alleged that the scam—initially pegged at ₹38 crore—has ballooned to over ₹750 crore and is linked to changes in the state’s excise policy in 2022 that allegedly benefited a particular syndicate.
Raising questions over the functioning of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, he claimed that the agency failed to file chargesheets within the legally mandated 90-day period, allowing a majority of the accused to secure default bail.
“It has now emerged as an irrefutable fact that, despite the passage of over eight months, the ACB has not filed a single chargesheet,” Marandi said, adding, “Out of 17 accused, 14 have been granted default bail due to failure to file chargesheets.”
The ACB had arrested several officials and individuals in 2025 in connection with the case, including former Excise Secretary Vinay Kumar Choubey and Joint Excise Commissioner Gajendra Singh, along with others linked to the Jharkhand State Beverages Corporation Limited.
According to Marandi, Singh secured bail within 56 days, while Choubey was granted default bail on August 19, 2025, due to the failure to file a chargesheet within the stipulated timeframe. Several other accused obtained similar relief soon after.
He also pointed to alleged lapses that weakened the case, stating that “deliberate delays compromised evidence and statutory procedures” and that the investigation “lacked neutrality and appeared to protect those involved.”
Further raising concerns over the probe’s effectiveness, Marandi cited the case of liquor trader Naveen Kedia, who allegedly fled after securing transit bail.
Describing the matter as a “premeditated economic offence,” the BJP leader said the issue goes beyond financial irregularities and raises serious concerns about law and order and administrative transparency in the state.
“The matter goes beyond financial irregularities, raising serious concerns over law and order and administrative transparency,” he said, warning that failure to ensure a fair probe could erode public trust.
Marandi urged the Governor to direct the ACB to immediately file pending chargesheets and recommend handing over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure accountability and restore confidence in the system.
