A major development has emerged in the high-profile Chhattisgarh liquor scam, involving an estimated 2,161 crore rupees. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has, for the first time, implicated more than 29 excise officials as accused. These officials are alleged to have colluded with a syndicate to facilitate the illegal sale of alcohol and collect commissions worth crores of rupees.
The EOW investigation revealed that these officials received a commission of ₹150 per case of liquor, which was then invested in land, property, and businesses. Following the completion of the investigation, the fifth charge sheet will be presented on July 5 in the special court (ACB-EOW). Notices have been sent to the accused, requiring their presence in court at 11 am. Several officials have either absconded or switched off their mobile phones after receiving the notices. Janardan Kaurav has been identified as the main coordinator of the syndicate, who was close to Special Secretary Arunpati Tripathi. Kaurav managed everything from transfers and postings to the supply of illegal liquor.
The scam unfolded from 2019 to 2023, generating ₹2,174.60 crore through the illegal sale of 60 lakh cases of liquor. Of this amount, ₹319 crore was collected by the officials from the suppliers. The charge sheet includes names such as Vikas Goswami, Neetu Notani, Dinkar Vasnik, and Ravish Tiwari, among others. While 16 officials are currently in service, 12 have retired. The EOW has stated that arrests will only be made upon court orders, and warrants will be issued if the accused fail to appear.
