Midnight liquor file seizure sparks political storm in Jharkhand
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Ranchi: A late-night operation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has triggered a fresh political storm in Jharkhand,…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi: A late-night operation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has triggered a fresh political storm in Jharkhand, with BJP leader Babulal Marandi accusing the agency of attempting to “erase crucial evidence” linked to the state’s liquor scam.
In a strongly-worded letter to Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the Leader of Opposition alleged that a truckload of files was taken away from the Excise Department office under “mysterious circumstances,” raising suspicions of a larger cover-up.
According to Marandi, the papers were removed “in the dark of the night” in an operation overseen directly by the Director General of Police (DGP), whose appointment he described as “illegal.”
He argued that the manner of the seizure was not part of any routine administrative or legal procedure but instead was carried out with “unusual secrecy.”
“Why was a truck full of papers removed at midnight? Is this an attempt to shield select officers and political leaders?” Marandi asked.
Fears of Evidence Destruction, Revenue Loss
The BJP leader alleged that the move was part of a conspiracy to protect influential individuals involved in the liquor trade.
He pointed out that earlier seizures by the ACB had created hurdles in the allocation of liquor shops, potentially leading to loss of state revenue.
“The suspicion deepens that deliberate attempts are being made to destroy vital documents related to the liquor scam, so that liquor mafias, bureaucrats, and those in power are saved in future investigations,” Marandi wrote.
BJP Turns Up Heat on Soren Government
Calling the episode a “direct blow” to public interest, Marandi reminded the Chief Minister of his “constitutional responsibility” to safeguard evidence and ensure transparency.
“The people of Jharkhand deserve to know at whose behest this is happening and who is being protected,” he asserted, warning that any cover-up attempt would eventually be exposed.
The letter is expected to sharpen the political confrontation between the BJP and the Soren government in the days ahead.
Liquor Scam Controversy
The controversy stems from allegations of large-scale irregularities in the state’s liquor trade, particularly in the allocation of retail shops. The Excise Department has faced accusations of favouring certain liquor contractors and creating conditions that allegedly benefited a nexus of private players, officials, and political figures.
The matter has already drawn the attention of central agencies, with speculation that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) may step in to probe financial irregularities.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), meanwhile, has carried out multiple raids and file seizures over the past year. Opposition leaders, however, allege that instead of exposing corruption, some of these actions have resulted in the disappearance of critical documents, fuelling suspicions of evidence tampering.
