Jharkhand Liquor Scam: Key Accused Arrested in Goa

Arrest of Naveen Kedia in Liquor Scam

Ranchi, January 8: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jharkhand has apprehended Naveen Kedia, a primary suspect in the liquor scam, in Goa.

Kedia, who hails from Durg district in Chhattisgarh, had been evading authorities for an extended period.

The ACB is currently arranging to transport him to Ranchi under transit remand, where he will face a court appearance. Investigators plan to conduct thorough questioning regarding his suspected involvement in the scam.

As per ACB officials, Kedia had previously been summoned for interrogation but did not comply. He later sought anticipatory bail from the court, which was denied, prompting him to go into hiding.

After persistent surveillance utilizing both technical resources and human intelligence, the ACB successfully located and arrested him in Goa.

Investigations indicate that the liquor scam in Jharkhand has extensive and organized connections with liquor traders from Chhattisgarh.

The Jharkhand link was initially uncovered when a diary was seized from businessman Siddharth Singhania's residence during an inquiry by the Chhattisgarh Anti-Corruption Bureau into their liquor scam.

This diary reportedly contained information about a syndicate aimed at monopolizing the liquor trade in Jharkhand, including the identification of individuals who posed challenges and strategies to deal with them.

Moreover, the ACB discovered that seven placement agencies contracted by the Jharkhand government for liquor shop operations and staffing had significantly breached tender conditions. The bank guarantees provided by these agencies were found to be fraudulent.

An internal audit report from the Jharkhand State Beverages Corporation Limited (JSBCL) estimates that these seven firms have inflicted a loss of around Rs 129.55 crore on the state through deceptive practices. The ACB has assessed the total scam amount to exceed Rs 150 crore.

Previously, several individuals, including senior IAS officer Vinay Kumar Chaubey, retired IAS officer Amit Prakash, Jharkhand Administrative Service officer Gajendra Singh, businessman Siddharth Singhania, and Vidhu Gupta, director of Prism Holography, were arrested in relation to this case.

However, many of the accused were granted bail due to the failure to file a charge sheet within the required timeframe.