Jharkhand Liquor Scam: ED gets court nod to interrogate ACB-arrested accused

Ranchi, Dec. 3: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will interrogate the accused arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in the Jharkhand liquor scam. The PMLA court has granted permission for the interrogation.

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According to reports, the ED had filed an application before the Special Judge (PMLA) seeking approval to question the accused arrested by the ACB in case number 9/25, currently lodged in Birsa Munda Jail.

The ED sought permission to interrogate Mahesh Sitaram, Paresh Thakor, Vikram Thakor, Bipin Jadhavbhai Parmar, and Jagan Thakor Desai.

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Court Grants Four Days for Interrogation

The ED told the court that interrogation and recording of statements of these accused was essential for its ongoing investigation into the liquor scam.
After considering the application, the Special Judge accepted the request and granted four days for interrogation.

False Bank Guarantees at the Core of the Case

The ED’s application stated that the FIR was registered after ACB’s investigation under PE-3/2024, which revealed that:

• M/s Vision Hospitality and Consultant Private Limited (VHSCPL)
  submitted false bank guarantees worth ₹5.35 crore, and

• M/s Marshon Innovative Security Private Limited (MISSPL)
  submitted false bank guarantees worth ₹5.02 crore.

The ED noted the following roles:

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• Mahesh Sitaram – MD, VHSCPL

• Paresh Thakor – Director, VHSCPL

• Vikram Thakor, Bipin Jadhavbhai Parmar – Directors, VHSPL

• Jagan Thakor Desai – Director, MISSPL

Senior IAS Officers Also Named in FIR

The ACB filed the FIR in May after completing its preliminary probe.
The FIR named:

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• Senior IAS officer Vinay Chaubey

• Excise Department Joint Secretary Gajendra Singh

• 10 others

Following this, the ACB arrested both Chaubey and Singh.
More than a dozen arrests have been made so far, and several accused have already been granted bail. The ACB continues its investigation.