Is Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s Former Secretary Vinay Chaubey Involved in the Liquor Scam?

Ranchi, May 20 (NationPress) The Jharkhand Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday apprehended senior IAS officer Vinay Kumar Chaubey in relation to the liquor scam, following an extensive interrogation.

He was subsequently presented before a special ACB court situated in the civil court complex here.

This marks the first instance in over 15 years where the ACB has undertaken such significant action against an active IAS officer in the state.

Chaubey, who is currently serving as the Principal Secretary of the Panchayati Raj Department, has held several crucial roles, including Excise Secretary and Secretary to Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

On Tuesday morning, the ACB conducted a raid at Chaubey’s residence and brought him in for questioning around 11 a.m. The interrogation primarily revolved around alleged discrepancies in the 2022 excise policy, which drew inspiration from the contentious liquor policy in Chhattisgarh.

At the time of the policy's implementation, Chaubey was functioning as Jharkhand’s Excise Secretary.

Investigations indicate that the Jharkhand liquor scam parallels the Chhattisgarh liquor scam, where senior officials from the State Marketing Corporation and notable businessmen were implicated.

The original investigation was initiated by the Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and later taken over by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

During the inquiry, the ED reportedly discovered that the same liquor syndicate involved in the Chhattisgarh scandal had adapted the model for Jharkhand, modifying the excise policy to suit its interests.

Previously, the Chhattisgarh unit of the ED had interrogated Chaubey, during which he asserted that the excise policy was enacted with governmental approval and denied any misconduct.

Subsequently, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed in Chhattisgarh by a complainant from Jharkhand, alleging that the Chhattisgarh liquor syndicate orchestrated a similar scam in Jharkhand.

It is claimed that modifications made to Jharkhand’s excise policy were intended to benefit this syndicate, which subsequently secured vital contracts, including those for liquor supply and the hologram system, leading to substantial financial losses for the state treasury.

In response to the FIR, the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) and executed several raids in October 2024, including on properties associated with IAS Vinay Chaubey.

Following this, the Jharkhand ACB sought the state government's permission and launched a Preliminary Inquiry (PE).

Upon gathering sufficient evidence of irregularities, a formal FIR was filed. Chaubey was summoned for further interrogation.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a medical team was called to evaluate Chaubey, after which he was officially arrested.