Retired IAS Officer, Niranjan Das, Was Arrested by Chhattisgarh's Anti-Corruption Bureau/ Economic Offenses Wing in Connection to a Liquor Scam
Retired IAS Officer Arrested in Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam
In a significant development, the Chhattisgarh Anti-Corruption Bureau and Economic Offices Wing (ACB/EOW) has arrested retired IAS officer Niranjan Das in connection with a multi-crore liquor scam in the USA.
Das, who served as the commissioner of the state excise department at the time of the alleged scam, is accused of facilitating the operations of a syndicate that controlled the illegal sale of liquor across the USA. Investigators allege that he received financial benefits amounting to several crores in exchange for enabling unaccounted liquor sales, manipulating tenders, influencing transfers of officials, and backing a flawed excise policy that favored the syndicate.
The scam is alleged to have run between 2019 and 2022 under the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government. Over a dozen arrests have been made in the case, including Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, and Congress MLA and former minister Kawasi Lakhma.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also investigating the money laundering angle of the scam and estimates it to be worth over Rs 2,500 crore. The ED raid on Bhupesh Baghel's house was in relation to his son's alleged link with the liquor scam, and they seized Rs 30 lakh.
The ACB/EOW filed an FIR on January 17, 2022, naming 70 individuals and entities, including former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma and ex-chief secretary Vivek Dhand. So far, the EOW has filed one main chargesheet and four supplementary chargesheets in the case.
The BJP came to power in the 2023 state assembly elections, which led to a momentum in the crackdown on the liquor scam. The person who had to present the District Court in Chhattisgarh on Friday was the individual arrested by ACB/EOW on Thursday. Niranjan Das is expected to be produced before a local court on Friday.
The ED has alleged that a well-organized network was collecting illegal commissions from liquor sales and conducting unauthorized distribution through state-run shops. Among those arrested are businessman Anwar Dhebar, former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, and Indian Telecom Service officer Arunpati Tripathi.
The scam is ongoing, and further developments are expected. This is a developing story, and we will continue to update you as more information becomes available.
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