Investigation – Jharkhand High Court Asked to Order CBI Probe Into Alleged Liquor Scam

Investigation –Leader of the Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly, Babulal Marandi, has approached the Jharkhand High Court by filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), requesting that the alleged liquor scam in the state be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The petition argues that the existing investigation has moved too slowly and calls for an independent agency to complete the probe without unnecessary delays.

Questions Raised Over Progress of Investigation

In the petition, Marandi has expressed concern over the pace of the ongoing investigation, stating that despite several months of inquiry, no chargesheet has yet been submitted before the court. According to the plea, this prolonged delay has created doubts about the efficiency and credibility of the investigation. He has requested that the matter be transferred to the CBI so that the case can be examined in a fair, transparent and time-bound manner.

Delay in Chargesheet Mentioned in PIL

The PIL states that the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) registered a First Information Report (FIR) in 2025 and subsequently arrested several individuals in connection with the alleged scam. However, since the investigating agency did not file a chargesheet within the legally prescribed period, the accused were granted default bail. The petition argues that this development reflects serious shortcomings in the progress of the investigation.

Names of Influential Individuals Surface

According to the court filing, more than 14 months have passed since the FIR was registered, yet the investigation remains incomplete. The petition also notes that the names of several influential persons have surfaced during the inquiry, including suspended IAS officer Vinay Chaubey. Marandi has maintained that the slow movement of the case despite the passage of considerable time raises important questions that deserve judicial attention.

Excise Policy Also Under Scrutiny

The PIL further states that the Jharkhand government introduced a revised excise policy in 2022, drawing inspiration from a similar liquor policy implemented in neighbouring Chhattisgarh. Marandi has argued that both the formulation and implementation of this policy are closely linked to the alleged irregularities and therefore require an independent examination by the CBI.

Allegations Related to Contracts and Private Firms

The petition also raises concerns over the awarding of contracts to two placement agencies, alleging that they secured work by submitting forged bank guarantees. It further claims that several private companies associated with the liquor trade have come under scrutiny during the investigation.

Marandi has also requested a detailed inquiry into the role of the company responsible for manufacturing holograms, the manpower supply agency and the firm that was awarded the wholesale liquor distribution contract. The PIL contends that the involvement of these entities should be thoroughly examined to determine whether any irregularities occurred during the execution of the policy.

Request for Independent CBI Investigation

Through the petition, Marandi has urged the Jharkhand High Court to transfer the entire investigation to the CBI. He has argued that an independent central agency would be better placed to conduct an impartial and credible investigation while ensuring that the case proceeds without external influence or unnecessary delay.

ED Continues Parallel Money Laundering Investigation

The petition comes against the backdrop of an ongoing investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). In December last year, the ED initiated a separate probe into the alleged liquor scam after registering an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), taking forward its own investigation alongside the original case.

Following the registration of the ECIR, the ED sought permission from the Special PMLA Court in Ranchi to question those who had already been arrested by the ACB. The court approved the agency’s request, allowing investigators to interrogate the accused and record their statements as part of the ongoing money laundering investigation.