Chattisgarh Liquor Scam: ED Files Case Against Several High-Ranking Excise Department Officials

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has lodged a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy with the Uttar Pradesh's Special Task Force (STF) against several high-ranking officials from the Chhattisgarh excise department and a Noida-based company.

This case is related to an alleged liquor 'scam'.

According to the FIR filed on Sunday at a police station in Greater Noida, a company based in Noida was supposedly granted a tender to supply holograms, which are a safety feature used to ensure the authenticity of liquor sold by the excise department in Chhattisgarh.

However, this tender was granted illegally.

The investigation conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has revealed that the company in question was not eligible to participate in the tender process.

However, with the collusion of the senior excise officials, the tender conditions were modified and the tender was unlawfully awarded to the company.

Furthermore, the officials involved also made arrangements to supply unaccounted duplicate holograms. This was done with the intention of carrying out the illegal sale of country liquor bottles from state-run shops in Chhattisgarh.

According to the ED, the holograms were produced at a factory in Noida and then transported to Chhattisgarh under the instructions of certain leaders from a "liquor syndicate".

The syndicate had been given the contract to supply 80 crore holograms over five years but at an inflated price. In return, they were promised a steady supply of duplicate holograms.

The ED also mentioned that during a search operation in 2021, duplicate holograms were discovered at the Noida factory of the company.

The delivery of these holograms has been confirmed through statements.

There has been no comment from the Excise and STF officials regarding this matter.