Chhattisgarh EOW takes custody of 2 Jharkhand businessmen in alleged liquor case

They will be brought to Raipur on a production warrant obtained from a Jharkhand court and will be produced before the special Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offences Wing court on Friday

Published on: Aug 29, 2025, 09:49:38 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Two liquor businessmen from Jharkhand were taken into custody by the Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged liquor case in the state, officials said on Thursday.

The two are accused of collecting commission on liquor trade as part of the money laundering case. (Representative file photo)

The accused, Atul Singh and Mukesh Manchanda who are directors of foreign liquor licensee firm Om Sai Beverages were lodged in a Jharkhand jail in a similar case there.

They will be brought to Raipur on a production warrant obtained from a Jharkhand court and will be produced before the special Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offences Wing (ACB/EOW) court on Friday, an official said.

Singh and Manchanda are accused of collecting commission on liquor trade as part of the money laundering case.

According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing the money laundering angle, the alleged case was run between 2019 and 2022 during the Congress government led by Bhupesh Baghel.

Also Read: Chhattisgarh liquor scam case: Chaitanya Baghel’s judicial custody extended till Aug 18

The ED has claimed that it caused a massive loss to the exchequer while a liquor syndicate pocketed more than ₹2,100 crore.

In January, the ED arrested former minister and Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma, businessman Anwar Dhebar, former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer Arunpati Tripathi and others in the case.

The EOW registered a first information case (FIR) in January last year, about a month after the BJP defeated the Congress in the 2023 assembly polls. The FIR named 70 individuals and companies, including Lakhma and former chief secretary Vivek Dhand.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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