ACB and EOW Conduct Raids on Liquor Traders and CA’s Residence in Multi-City Operation

Investigative Teams Target Properties in Excise Scam

TFP Bureau, Raipur, April 12, 2024: In a coordinated effort, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) carried out raids across multiple cities, targeting individuals associated with the liquor trade and related activities. The operation spanned Raipur, Bhilai, Rajnandgaon, and Bilaspur, resulting in searches at 21 different locations on Thursday.

The joint team descended on residences linked to liquor businessmen, including high-profile figures such as Vijay Bhatia and Pappu Bansal in Bhilai. At the home of Vijay Bhatia, located in Nehru Nagar, East Bhilai, officers initiated investigations. Meanwhile, the team sealed the residence of Pappu Bansal in New Khursipar after finding it closed, pasting a notice before moving on to other targets.

The scrutiny extended to Raipur, where authorities conducted actions at the residence of Atul Sinha, FL10 A liquor licensee in Smriti Nagar. Simultaneously, the team pursued leads in Bhilai, targeting individuals associated with the liquor and coal industries in areas like Devendra Nagar, Sadar Bazaar, and Pandari.

Significant assets and documents were seized during the raids, including approximately Rs 19 lakh in cash, electronic devices like laptops and pen drives, bank statements, and a trove of movable and immovable property documents. Additionally, jewelry valued at crores and substantial bank investments surfaced during the searches.

The investigations are part of the Excise case under Bureau’s crime number 04/2024, invoking sections of the Anti-Corruption Act. The recovered documents are crucial to unraveling alleged instances of illegal property acquisition, common investments, shell companies, and financial irregularities related to excise operations.

Earlier developments in the excise scam case saw the arrest of former Special Secretary of the Excise Department, AP Tripathi, in Bihar by ACB/EOW officials. The intensified actions underscore the authorities’ commitment to rooting out corruption and ensuring accountability in the state’s excise operations.

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