Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam: Former Excise Commissioner IAS Niranjan Das Arrested Amid Ongoing Probe

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing the money-laundering angle, estimates the scam’s value at over Rs 2,500 crore

RAIPUR (India CSR) – In a significant development in the multi-crore Chhattisgarh liquor scam, the state’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) arrested retired IAS officer Niranjan Das, the former Excise Commissioner, on Thursday. Das, 62, is accused of colluding with a powerful liquor syndicate to manipulate liquor supply and sales through government-run shops, receiving undue benefits worth several crores in return. This arrest adds to the growing list of high-profile figures implicated in the scandal, which has rocked the state’s political and bureaucratic landscape.

Investigators allege that Das tampered with the tendering process and twisted excise policies to favor the cartel. Specifically, he is said to have facilitated the sale of unaccounted liquor, orchestrated transfers of officers aligned with the syndicate’s interests, and approved flawed policy decisions that inflated the group’s profits. The EOW claims these actions contributed to a staggering loss of around Rs 3,200 crore to the state exchequer between 2019 and 2022, during the tenure of the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government. Das, who retired over a year ago, was taken into custody and is expected to be produced before a local court on Friday.

The Chhattisgarh liquor scam, often dubbed the “great liquor loot,” involves a sophisticated syndicate that allegedly turned the state’s excise system into a lucrative extortion racket. The scam’s roots trace back to policy changes initiated under the previous BJP government in 2017, which established the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL) to centralize liquor retailing and curb illegal sales. However, after the Congress assumed power in 2018, the system was purportedly hijacked. From 2019 onward, the syndicate—comprising politicians, senior bureaucrats, and businessmen—allegedly manipulated every aspect of the liquor trade, from procurement to sales.

The Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam: Key Phases and Manipulations

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing the money-laundering angle, estimates the scam’s value at over Rs 2,500 crore, with some sources pegging it closer to Rs 3,200 crore. The operation unfolded in three primary mechanisms. First, distillers paid illegal commissions—ranging from Rs 75 to Rs 150 per case—on accounted liquor sales to secure payments and market shares. This alone generated hundreds of crores in bribes.

Second, the syndicate orchestrated the sale of unaccounted “kacha” (country-made) liquor through state-run shops, bypassing official records. This involved producing duplicate holograms, procuring bottles in cash, and transporting liquor directly from distilleries to outlets, evading excise duties and taxes. Reports indicate that 30-40% of total liquor sales between 2019 and 2022 were off-the-books, with around 400 trucks monthly moving illegal stock in 2022-23 alone. Profits were shared among distillers, transporters, hologram makers, excise officials, and higher-ups.

Key Facts: Unaccounted “Kacha” Liquor Trade

Third, in April 2020, the introduction of FL-10A licenses allowed select firms—often fronts for the syndicate—to handle premium foreign liquor, charging a 10% commission and diverting 60% of profits to political figures. This cartelization ensured a monopoly, with illicit funds laundered through real estate and shell companies.

Key players in the scandal include businessman Anwar Dhebar, who allegedly led the syndicate and set bribe targets; retired IAS officer Anil Tuteja, labeled a kingpin; and Arunpati Tripathi, former MD of CSMCL, who facilitated operations. Other notables are former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma, arrested in January 2025 for receiving Rs 72 crore; and Chaitanya Baghel, son of ex-CM Bhupesh Baghel, detained in July 2025 for money laundering linked to real estate projects like Vitthal Green. Former Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand and liquor baron Trilok Singh Dhillon are also implicated, with confessions from figures like Laxmi Narayan Bansal (Pappu) revealing cash deliveries exceeding Rs 1,000 crore.

Key Players in the Liquor Scam Scandal

The probe intensified after the BJP’s victory in the 2023 assembly elections. The Anti-Corruption Bureau/EOW filed an FIR on January 17, 2024, naming 70 individuals and companies, including Lakhma and Dhand. To date, one main chargesheet and four supplementary ones have been submitted, with over a dozen arrests. The ED has conducted raids, seized evidence like WhatsApp chats and Excel sheets, and arrested several suspects under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Politically, the scam has fueled accusations of corruption against the previous Congress regime. Bhupesh Baghel has dismissed the probes as politically motivated, calling the ED a “political agent” of the BJP. Meanwhile, the current Vishnu Deo Sai-led BJP government has vowed to root out corruption, with investigations ongoing to uncover the full extent of the syndicate’s reach.

Das’s arrest underscores the scam’s deep entrenchment in state machinery, raising questions about governance and accountability. As the probe continues, more revelations could emerge, potentially reshaping Chhattisgarh’s political dynamics ahead of future elections.

(India CSR)