Leader of the Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly, Babulal Marandi, met Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar to request a CBI investigation into an alleged liquor scam in the state, which he claims has grown to over Rs 750 crore. Marandi submitted a memorandum to the Governor, alleging serious irregularities in the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s handling of the case.
He criticized the ACB for its questionable role, suggesting that instead of conducting a fair investigation, it seemed to be protecting those implicated in the scam. Changes made to the excise policy in 2022, as per the memorandum, allegedly favored a specific group, resulting in significant revenue losses for the state. The scam, initially estimated at about Rs 38 crore, has now purportedly surged to over Rs 750 crore, according to Marandi.
Marandi highlighted that despite some arrests by the ACB, the failure to file a charge sheet within the mandated 90-day period allowed several accused individuals to obtain default bail. Notably, key officials like the then Excise Secretary Vinay Kumar Chaubey and Joint Excise Commissioner Gajendra Singh, who were arrested in May 2025, have been granted bail. Additionally, four IAS officers have been interrogated in connection with the case.
Alleging negligence or collusion, Marandi pointed out that despite over eight months passing, the ACB has not submitted a single charge sheet, leading to the release on bail of 14 out of 17 arrested persons. He also mentioned a Chhattisgarh-based liquor businessman who reportedly fled and remains untraceable. Marandi urged the Governor to step in, instruct the ACB to accelerate charge sheet submissions, and propose a CBI inquiry to ensure accountability, bring the culprits to justice, and rebuild public trust in the system.
