LoP Marandi Demands CBI Probe in Jharkhand Liquor Scam

Ranchi (IANS) — Babulal Marandi, Leader of the Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly, met Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar on Tuesday to demand a CBI probe into the state’s alleged liquor scam. Marandi claims the scam now exceeds ₹750 crore.

The BJP leader submitted a memorandum to the Governor detailing serious irregularities in the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s (ACB) investigation. Marandi characterized the agency’s role as “suspect,” charging that the ACB shielded scammers rather than conducting an impartial inquiry.

Key Allegations and Policy Failures

• Policy Manipulation: Marandi alleges that the 2022 excise policy changes favored a specific syndicate, which stripped the state of substantial revenue.

• Ballooning Figures: While officials initially pegged the scam at ₹38 crore, Marandi claims the figure has since escalated to over ₹750 crore.

• Procedural Lapses: Although the ACB arrested several individuals, it failed to file a charge sheet within the required 90-day window. This failure allowed the accused to secure default bail.

Status of the Accused

The investigation has touched high-ranking officials and businessmen, yet Marandi argues the legal process has stalled:

• High-Profile Arrests: In May 2025, the ACB arrested then-Excise Secretary Vinay Kumar Chaubey and Joint Excise Commissioner Gajendra Singh. Both men later secured bail.

• Questioning: The ACB has questioned four IAS officers regarding their involvement.

• Mass Release: Because the ACB has not filed a charge sheet in over eight months, 14 of the 17 arrested individuals have walked free on bail.

• Missing Persons: Marandi also highlighted a Chhattisgarh-based liquor businessman who allegedly fled and remains untraceable.

Call for Action

Marandi labeled the ACB’s inaction as either “gross negligence or collusion.” He urged the Governor to intervene immediately by directing the ACB to expedite its filings and recommending a full CBI investigation. Marandi maintains that only a federal probe can ensure accountability, punish the guilty, and restore public trust in the system.