New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted searches at 11 premises linked to liquor contractors across Madhya Pradesh, including Bhopal, Indore, and Mandsaur, in connection with a ₹49.42 crore fraud case.
The probe was initiated based on an FIR alleging that the accused manipulated treasury challans and fraudulently obtained No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for liquor procurement between 2015-16 and 2017-18, causing massive losses to the state exchequer.
Investigations revealed that the contractors deposited small amounts in banks but later altered challans by inflating the amounts in words while leaving the numerical figures unchanged. These forged documents were then submitted to excise offices to secure liquor licenses unlawfully.
“The accused left the ‘amount in words’ section blank initially, later filling in exaggerated sums to show higher payments,” an ED official said. The scam involved both country and foreign liquor suppliers.
The ED is examining financial transactions and documents seized during the raids to trace the money trail. No arrests have been made yet.
This crackdown comes amid heightened scrutiny of financial irregularities in the state’s excise department. Authorities have vowed strict action against those involved in the alleged scam.
