Senior Bureaucrat Faces Repeated Questioning in Multi-Crore Scam
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) intensified its investigation into the Rs 38-crore liquor scam on Thursday by questioning East Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner Karn Satyarthi for the second time this week. This marks the latest development in a case that has exposed significant irregularities in Jharkhand's liquor retail system.
Timeline of Questioning
Karn Satyarthi first appeared before the ACB on Monday following an official summon, and returned for additional questioning just three days later on Thursday. The repeated interrogations suggest investigators are seeking crucial information from the senior bureaucrat, who previously served as the state's excise commissioner during the period under scrutiny.
The timing of these back-to-back questioning sessions indicates the ACB is moving aggressively with its investigation, possibly following new evidence or inconsistencies in previous statements.
Nature of the Scam
At the heart of the investigation are fake bank guarantees submitted by placement agencies that were selected to operate retail liquor shops across Jharkhand. These fraudulent financial instruments, totaling Rs 38 crore, enabled unqualified agencies to secure lucrative liquor retail licenses.
The scam reveals serious vulnerabilities in the verification process for liquor shop allocations, raising questions about oversight mechanisms within the excise department. The substantial financial scale of the fraud suggests organized manipulation of the system.
Satyarthi's previous role as excise commissioner places him in a position of particular interest to investigators, as he would have been responsible for overseeing the very processes that were allegedly compromised.
Broader Implications
This case represents one of the significant corruption investigations currently underway in Jharkhand. The ACB's persistent focus on a serving deputy commissioner demonstrates the agency's commitment to pursuing high-level officials in corruption cases.
The investigation also highlights systemic issues in how liquor retail operations are managed in the state, potentially prompting broader reforms in the excise department's operational procedures.
As the probe continues, all eyes remain on the ACB's next moves and whether additional officials will be called for questioning in connection with the sophisticated scam that exploited gaps in the verification system.
