Raipur: In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into one of Chhattisgarh’s biggest corruption scandals, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday arrested 62-year-old retired IAS officer Niranjan Das, who once served as the Excise Commissioner of the state.
According to officials, Das is accused of playing a crucial role in facilitating what has now been termed the ₹3,200-crore liquor scam, a racket that allegedly operated between 2019 and 2022 during the tenure of the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government.
Role of Niranjan Das
EOW sources said Niranjan Das, who originally entered the service through the Chhattisgarh State Civil Service before being promoted to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), retired from government service a little over a year ago.
Investigators allege that during his posting as Excise Commissioner, Das acted as an enabler for a syndicate of bureaucrats, politicians, and Excise Department officials that manipulated state policy and procedures to profit from the illegal sale of liquor.
An official statement by the EOW/ACB noted: Mr. Niranjan Das is accused of assisting a syndicate active in the Excise Department.
This included enabling the sale of unaccounted liquor through government shops, manipulating the tender process, influencing the transfer of officials, and cooperating in the implementation of a flawed liquor policy. Through these actions, he provided undue advantage to the syndicate and personally benefited by several crores.”
Scale of the Alleged Scam
The scam allegedly revolved around the parallel sale of unaccounted liquor outside official records, as well as the manipulation of the tendering system for supply contracts. By ensuring that officials aligned with the syndicate were posted in key positions, the network was able to funnel massive sums of unreported income.
Officials estimate that the scam inflicted a loss of nearly ₹3,200 crore to the state exchequer, depriving the public of crucial funds that could have been used for welfare and development programs.
Multi-Agency Investigation
The EOW/ACB registered an FIR in 2023, formally launching a probe into the criminal conspiracy. At the same time, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) began investigating the money laundering angle linked to the scam.
The ED has already taken major steps in the case, including filing a prosecution complaint against Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, suggesting that proceeds from the alleged scam may have been diverted or laundered through multiple channels.
Next Steps
Inspector General of Police, Raipur Range, Amresh Mishra, confirmed that Niranjan Das will be produced before a court on Friday. Further custodial interrogation is likely as investigators attempt to trace the money trail, identify the full scale of beneficiaries, and establish the political-bureaucratic nexus that allegedly enabled the scam.
Sources within the EOW/ACB believe that Das’s arrest could be a turning point in the case, opening the door for more high-profile arrests in the weeks ahead.
Broader Implications
The case has rocked Chhattisgarh’s political and administrative establishment. The scale of the scam, coupled with the alleged involvement of top-level bureaucrats and the shadow of political connections, highlights systemic corruption and loopholes in the state-run liquor policy.
Observers note that liquor policies across India have often been prone to manipulation due to the high revenue potential of excise, one of the largest sources of income for state governments.
The arrest of a retired IAS officer underscores how corruption networks often extend to the highest echelons of bureaucracy, making accountability a slow and challenging process.
The arrest of Niranjan Das is the latest step in unraveling the multi-thousand-crore liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. With both the EOW/ACB and ED intensifying their probes, the case is expected to reveal further names and deepen the political storm.
As the state gears up for upcoming elections, the scandal has already become a flashpoint in the battle over governance, transparency, and corruption.
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