The ACB has summoned three former Jharkhand excise officials for questioning on August 4 in the alleged liquor scam. Investigators are reviewing tender records, financial evidence and earlier statements to clarify reported discrepancies. The three officials were previously arrested in the case and are currently out on bail.

Jharkhand Liquor Scam Probe Deepens as ACB Calls Three Former Excise Officials 

The Anti-Corruption Bureau has summoned three former top officials of the Excise Department in connection with the alleged Jharkhand liquor scam. The probe continues into the loss of revenue, tender records and financial evidence.

The probe into the Jharkhand liquor scam has taken another major turn with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) summoning three former senior officials of the state’s excise and prohibition department for questioning. An official statement released late Wednesday said the officers have been ordered to appear before investigators on August 4 to clarify discrepancies in their earlier statements and documents concerning the ongoing probe. 

The officials who have been summoned are former Excise Commissioner Gajendra Singh, former General Manager of Jharkhand State Beverages Corporation Limited (JSBCL) Sudhir Kumar Das and former Commissioner Amit Prakash. They are expected to be questioned by investigators on documentary evidence, previous testimonies and other materials gathered during the investigation into the alleged irregularities.

ACB revisits evidence in the Jharkhand liquor scam investigation

The ACB has said the latest summonses are part of efforts to verify facts that have emerged from earlier investigations. The questioning is to match up earlier statements with tender documents, financial records and other available evidence to determine whether any procedural lapses or financial irregularities took place, officials said. 

The agency said the three former officers were asked to appear in person before investigators to clarify issues arising from documents already examined. Further questioning is required whenever inconsistencies or gaps are found in the review of evidence, authorities said.

The case was registered last year on allegations of irregularities in processes related to the state’s liquor administration. Since then, investigators have continued to collect documents, examine financial transactions and take statements from people connected to the case.

Earlier in the probe, the Anti-Corruption Bureau had arrested Gajendra Singh, Sudhir Kumar Das and Amit Prakash in connection with the case. But all three of them are out on bail as of now, as the agency could not file a charge sheet in the legally stipulated time.

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Revenue loss remains central to the ACB probe

The investigation is focused on whether the alleged irregularities caused financial losses to the state government, said the person, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The idea is to see if there was any loss of revenue to the state in the process, the official stated. Investigators are verifying previous statements with soft documents, financial records and other available evidence before seeking additional clarification from people involved, the person said.

ACB has not made any new disclosures or filed any new charges against the officials summoned. The questioning on August 4 is expected to help investigators evaluate the consistency of evidence already gathered in the probe. 

What the latest summons could mean for the investigation

The issuance of fresh summons during an ongoing investigation is a routine procedural step when agencies seek clarification or verification before deciding on further action, legal experts say. Such appearances do not, in themselves, constitute new charges or establish misdeeds.

The probe is still on as the ACB is still going through documentary records and financial evidence in connection with the alleged liquor scam. "Further legal action will depend on the results of the ongoing verification process and evidence collected during questioning.

Sprouts News will continue to follow official developments, court cases and statements from investigating authorities as the probe continues. The August 4 interrogation result could throw more light on the future course of the Jharkhand liquor scam investigation and any subsequent legal actions.