Who Are the Two Individuals Arrested in the Rs 50 Crore Liquor Challan Scam in Indore?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two suspects arrested in connection with a Rs 50 crore liquor scam.
- The scam involved manipulated treasury challans.
- Significant losses to the state treasury were reported.
- The ED is investigating further to uncover the full extent of the fraud.
- Legal actions are underway against the accused.
Indore, Oct 6 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) operating in the Indore sub-division of Madhya Pradesh has apprehended two suspects under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in relation to an alleged Rs 50 crore counterfeit liquor challan scam in Indore.
The individuals taken into custody have been identified as Ansh Trivedi and Raju Dashwant. This operation took place on October 3. Both individuals were presented before the local district court, which has ordered their remand to ED custody until October 8, as stated in an announcement made by the ED on Monday.
According to ED officials, it was discovered during the investigation that Ansh Trivedi and Raju Dashwant were the key orchestrators of the counterfeit liquor challan scheme. This scam enabled liquor contractors to reap unlawful profits while inflicting significant financial damage to the state government.
The inquiry also disclosed that the accused contractors initially deposited treasury challans with minimal amounts and left the “Rupees in Words” section blank.
The ED's probe commenced following an FIR filed at Raoji Police Station, Indore, under various sections of the IPC, 1860, against specific liquor contractors accused of causing a loss estimated at around Rs. 49.42 crore to the state treasury through manipulation and forgery of government treasury challans.
The investigation has revealed a fraudulent operation wherein the accused contractors initially deposited treasury challans with negligible amounts, intentionally leaving the “Rupees in Words” section unfilled.
Following the deposit, they deceitfully inflated the amounts in both figures and words.
The ED stated, “These altered challan copies were later presented to country liquor warehouses or district excise offices (in cases involving foreign liquor) as false evidence of payment for excise duties, Basic License Fees, or Minimum Guarantee obligations.”
Utilizing these forged documents, the accused obtained illegal NOCs and liquor license approvals, thereby defrauding the state government. This allowed liquor contractors to illicitly secure profits while incurring substantial losses to the state treasury.
Officials further noted that both suspects were brought before the Hon’ble Magistrate and have been granted custody until October 8, 2025, with further investigation ongoing.
IANS
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