Gajendra Singh Arrested in Liquor Scam After 10-Year Tenure in Ranchi

Ranchi: In a major development in the Jharkhand liquor scam, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday arrested senior IAS officer Vinay Choubey and Gajendra Singh, Joint Commissioner of the Excise Department. Both officials have been remanded to judicial custody following their arrest.

Gajendra Singh, a powerful figure within the Excise Department, had held a continuous posting in Ranchi for nearly 10 years. He was initially appointed as In-charge Deputy Commissioner of Excise and, despite frequent transfers of department secretaries and other senior officials over the years, Singh managed to retain his post—highlighting his strong political backing and well-placed connections.

Singh's influence within the department steadily increased, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, a special single-seat post was created to promote him to Joint Commissioner—a highly unusual move that raised eyebrows at the time. His name has also emerged in connection with similar liquor-related investigations in Chhattisgarh, further complicating his legal troubles.

Now, as the liquor scam investigation deepens, Singh’s unusually long and uninterrupted tenure in Ranchi is drawing increased scrutiny from authorities.