Ranchi- In a major development in the Jharkhand liquor scam case, the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested Chhattisgarh businessman Naveen Kedia from Goa.
Kedia, who hails from Durg district in Chhattisgarh, had been evading arrest for months. The ACB is in the process of bringing him to Ranchi on transit remand, where he will be produced before a competent court for further proceedings.
Officials said Kedia had ignored earlier summons issued by the ACB and subsequently sought anticipatory bail, which was rejected by the court. After this setback, he reportedly went into hiding.
Following continuous monitoring through technical surveillance and intelligence inputs, the ACB team succeeded in tracing his whereabouts and apprehending him in Goa.
The investigation has revealed that the liquor scam in Jharkhand has strong and organised links with liquor traders operating out of Chhattisgarh. The inter-state connection came to light after investigators recovered a diary from the residence of businessman Siddharth Singhania during a probe by the Chhattisgarh ACB.
The diary allegedly documented the functioning of a syndicate that sought to control liquor trade operations in Jharkhand, including methods to deal with individuals perceived as hindrances.
Further inquiry found that seven placement agencies awarded government contracts for liquor shop management and manpower supply violated tender conditions, with bank guarantees submitted by them later found to be forged.
An internal audit conducted by the Jharkhand State Beverages Corporation Limited pegged the financial loss caused by these agencies at about Rs 129.55 crore. The ACB has estimated the overall scam amount to be in excess of Rs 150 crore.
Earlier arrests in the case included senior bureaucrats and businessmen, though most of them secured bail after the charge sheet was not filed within the statutory deadline.
With inputs from IANS