The Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta has initiated a probe into an alleged significant liquor scam following a confidential report from the Income Tax Department. The report, arising from a 2016 raid on a liquor businessman’s premises, purportedly involves numerous high-ranking officials from the state’s Excise Department.
The investigation centers on individuals referenced in a coded diary seized during the raids, identified only by partial names like ‘Sharma Ji’, ‘Bangde Sahab’, and ‘Pandey Babu’. Seeking to unveil their identities and roles in the suspected financial misconduct, the Lokayukta has urged the Excise Department to furnish comprehensive details.
Specifically, the Lokayukta has urged the Excise Department to clarify the roles of these individuals and furnish information regarding their positions and postings. Additionally, scrutiny is directed towards an assistant commissioner stationed in Bhopal, alleged to have involvement in the scandal.
This inquiry originates from an Income Tax Department raid on January 7, 2016, targeting a prominent liquor businessman with operations across several states. The operation unearthed undisclosed income exceeding ₹1,000 crores, alongside significant cash, jewelry, real estate holdings, and investments in various ventures, including educational institutions and cold-storage facilities.
Central to the investigation is a coded diary found during the raid, documenting suspicious financial transactions and allegedly implicating several Excise Department officials.
Inspector Kavindra Singh Chauhan of the Special Police Establishment (Lokayukta) has issued a notice to the Excise Department, requesting details on postings and officers stationed in Gwalior, Shivpuri, and other relevant locations during the period under scrutiny.