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6d ago

Senior Jharkhand IAS Officer Arrested in Multi-Crore Liquor Scam

Vinay Kumar Choubey, accused of colluding with a Chhattisgarh liquor syndicate, is now in judicial custody as investigations into corruption and money laundering deepen.

Arrest | Image: AI
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Photo: SNS
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Overview

  • The Jharkhand Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested IAS officer Vinay Kumar Choubey on May 20, 2025, following hours of interrogation regarding the 2022 excise policy scam.
  • Choubey is accused of altering Jharkhand's excise policy to benefit a Chhattisgarh-based liquor syndicate, resulting in a ₹38-crore loss to the state exchequer.
  • The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had previously conducted raids in October 2024 as part of a money-laundering probe tied to the scam, uncovering links between Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand officials.
  • Choubey and co-accused Gajendra Singh, former Joint Excise Commissioner, have been sent to judicial custody until June 3, 2025, as the investigation continues.
  • The case highlights alleged bureaucratic collusion, with central agencies like the ED and potentially the CBI expected to expand the probe into the multi-state liquor racket.