Jharkhand Liquor Scam: Seven Arrested from Maharashtra and Gujarat by ACB

Ranchi – The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jharkhand has arrested seven individuals from Maharashtra and Gujarat in connection with large-scale financial irregularities in government liquor contracts, officials said on Tuesday.

The arrests were carried out through coordinated operations across the two states, according to ACB sources. The accused are being brought to Ranchi on transit remand and will be presented before the ACB’s special court.

Those apprehended include Vipin Jadavbhai Parmar, Mahesh Shedge, Paresh Abhesingh Thakor, and Vikram Singh Thakor from Gujarat, and Jagan Tukaram Desai, Kamal Jagan Desai, and Sheetal Jagan Desai from Maharashtra.

Arrest warrants were issued for the seven individuals in June after investigations revealed serious irregularities. According to the probe, seven companies contracted by the Jharkhand government to operate liquor outlets and supply manpower to the Jharkhand State Beverages Corporation Limited (JSBCL) had allegedly breached tender conditions and submitted forged bank guarantees.

An internal JSBCL audit showed that the fraudulent actions resulted in losses of Rs 129.55 crore, with the total scam estimated to exceed Rs 150 crore.

The newly arrested individuals are believed to be part of a larger network already under investigation. Earlier, the ACB had arrested senior IAS officers and other high-profile individuals linked to the case, though all were later granted bail due to procedural delays.

The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are expected.

With inputs from IANS