State Economic Offences Investigation and Anti Corruption Bureau (SEOIACB) have intensified actions against those allegedly involved in the Liquor scam. As per information, Arvind Singh, one of the accused in the case, was rearrested upon his release from jail on Wednesday night. Arvind Singh who was in jail following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the liquor scam was given bail by the High Court. Following Arvind Singh’s arrest by SEOIACB, on sections under the Prevention of Corruption Act he was presented in the court seeking remand for seven days for further interrogation but the court granted four-day custody of the accused. This move by the SEOIACB is in line with the commitment of the government to bring those involved in the liquor scams to justice. SEOIACB on February 25 had raided 13 premises, including that of two former IAS officers, an excise officer and a few businessmen, in connection with the alleged liquor scam. The raids covered the premises of former chief secretary Vivek Dhand (retired IAS officer), former secretary of commerce and industry department Anil Tuteja (retired IAS officer), then commissioner of excise department Niranjan Das, Excise officer Ashok Kumar Singh, businessman Anwar Dhebar (brother of Congress leader and Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar), Arvind Singh and Siddarth Singhania in Raipur.

 

The action also covered the premises of a businessman in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, Following the raid, speculation arose regarding a potential leak of information, as the SEOIACB failed to obtain any documentation. In the Liquor scam, coming to light after the ED investigation has implicated 70 individuals under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The allegations involve fraudulent activities related to the liquor trade between 2019 and 2022. Arvind Singh was named an accused in the liquor scam and the ED was on his trail. After evading arrest for some time finally last year, he was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at Ramnagar Muktidham in Bhilai while attending his mother’s funeral. According to ED’s investigation, corruption manifested in multiple forms, including bribery from distillers to the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL), the sale of unaccounted raw country liquor, and the acceptance of bribes to manipulate market dynamics. Additionally, commissions allegedly exchanged hands among FL-10A license holders in the foreign liquor segment.

 

ED estimates the total value of the scam to exceed Rs 2,200 crore, highlighting the significant financial implications of these illicit activities in Chhattisgarh. The names of bureaucrats, distillers, businessmen, excise officials and others figure in the FIR. Meanwhile, it is also learned that Anwar Dhebar another accused in the Liquor scam has been called by the SEOIACB for questioning under Section 160 of CrPC and later, according to sources, he will be grilled under Section 91 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Earlier there were rumours that Anwar Dhebar has been arrested by the SEOIACB from near Kumhari Toll Plaza but latest reports suggest that Anwar Dhebar is likely to be arrested on Thursday late night or on Friday