Trader Apprehended in Coastal State After Evading Authorities
In a significant development in the ongoing Jharkhand liquor scam investigation, the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has successfully arrested a key suspect. The agency nabbed Navin Kedia, a trader based in Chhattisgarh, from Goa. Kedia was wanted in connection with the multi-crore scam involving fraudulent practices in the state's liquor retail system.
The Hunt and Capture
According to official sources, the ACB had been pursuing Kedia for some time. After he failed to comply with earlier summons to appear for questioning, the bureau secured an arrest warrant from the special ACB court in Ranchi. Kedia had also sought anticipatory bail from the same court, but his plea was rejected. Following this legal setback, he had been absconding.
The trail led investigators to Goa, where Kedia was finally located and taken into custody. To facilitate his transfer to Jharkhand for further interrogation and legal proceedings, the ACB applied for and obtained a transit remand from a local court in Goa.
Core of the Scam: Fake Guarantees and Inaction
The case being investigated by the ACB revolves around the submission of fake bank guarantees by human resource agencies. Specifically, agencies named Vision Hospitality and Marshan Innovative submitted these fraudulent documents to secure contracts for running retail liquor shops across Jharkhand.
The probe is not only looking at the submission of these fake guarantees but also examining the alleged lack of action by officials against these agencies despite the irregularities. This points to a possible larger nexus involving businessmen and government officials.
A Growing List of Accused
Navin Kedia is not the first high-profile individual to be arrested in this sprawling case. The ACB's investigation has previously led to the arrest of several notable figures, including:
- IAS officer Vinay Choubey
- Former IAS officer Amit Prakash
- Excise officer Ganjendra Singh
- Then JSBCL GM Sudhir Kumar Das
- GM operation-cum-finance Sudhir Kumar
- Raipur-based businessman Sidharth Singhania
It is important to note that all the individuals arrested earlier in this case have subsequently secured bail.
The arrest of Navin Kedia marks a crucial step forward for the ACB as it pieces together the complex web of financial deception and administrative collusion in the Jharkhand liquor scam. His interrogation is expected to provide further insights into the modus operandi and potentially reveal more names connected to the scandal.
