Suspended IAS officer Vinay Kumar Choubey (1999-batch, Jharkhand cadre) and former Excise Commissioner Gajendra Singh were remanded to judicial custody on Saturday in connection with the ongoing Jharkhand liquor scam. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) presented both officers before the Special ACB Court, which subsequently ordered their transfer to Birsa Munda Central Jail following the expiry of their custodial remand.
Earlier, the ACB had secured a two-day custodial remand for Mr. Choubey. However, due to his reported ill health, only one day of effective questioning could be carried out. During the limited interrogation, Mr. Choubey allegedly avoided answering key questions, citing medical issues. Investigators sought explanations regarding the selection of placement agencies, lapses in the verification of bank guarantees, and his role as Excise Secretary. Mr. Choubey is believed to have denied any direct involvement in the irregularities under investigation.
Mr. Gajendra Singh, who had also served as Joint Excise Commissioner, was questioned for two days. He reportedly distanced himself from major decisions, asserting that the functioning of the Jharkhand State Beverages Corporation Limited (JSBCL) did not fall under his administrative purview. Sources indicate he denied any significant involvement in the financial or operational matters under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi escalated his criticism of the state government’s handling of the case. In a series of social media posts, he posed eight pointed questions to Mr. Choubey, including inquiries about a letter allegedly sent to the Chief Minister before the Chhattisgarh-linked liquor scam surfaced. He also questioned the Chief Minister’s Office’s purported role in awarding contracts to companies such as Martian Securities and mVision Hospitality.
Mr. Marandi further alleged procedural irregularities involving a high-level team from Jharkhand that visited Chhattisgarh to review its liquor distribution model. According to him, the team returned within 24 hours — on a public holiday — with a seemingly predetermined recommendation, suggesting a manipulated and pre-planned outcome. “If the ACB genuinely intends to uncover the full extent of this scam, it must thoroughly examine the purpose, conduct, and affiliations of the Raipur-bound committee,” he stated.
Reaffirming his demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, Mr. Marandi emphasized that only an independent agency could ensure a fair and unbiased investigation. He questioned the capacity of the state-controlled ACB to impartially investigate senior bureaucrats and political leaders, and urged Chief Minister Hemant Soren to recommend a CBI inquiry to uphold transparency and accountability.
