ED Arrests Two Masterminds in Rs 49 Crore Indore Fake Liquor Challan Scam Investigation

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has apprehended two individuals in connection with a major fake liquor challan scam worth Rs 49 crore. The suspects, Ansh Trivedi and Raju Dashwant, were arrested as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation into the extensive excise fraud operation.

In Indore, ED officials revealed that their investigation stemmed from an FIR filed at Raoji Police Station, where multiple liquor contractors were charged with causing a substantial loss of Rs 49.42 crore to the state treasury. The accused reportedly manipulated government treasury challans by submitting forms with the amount section in words left blank, which they later modified to create fraudulent documents showing exaggerated payment figures.

These counterfeit challans were subsequently presented as authentic government documents, falsely representing payment of excise duty, license fees, and minimum guarantee amounts. Through these fabricated records, the perpetrators successfully obtained unauthorized No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and liquor licenses.

The ED investigation identified Trivedi and Dashwant as the principal architects of the entire scheme. Authorities allege they orchestrated the systematic forgery of challans and manipulation of official records to execute their fraudulent operation.

Following their arrest, both suspects appeared before a special court, which remanded them to ED custody until Wednesday for further questioning.

Authorities stated that the agency is currently tracing the money trail to discover how the illicit funds were channeled and to identify additional contractors and government officials potentially implicated in the scheme.

The scam, involving irregularities from treasury challans to excise licenses, is believed to have inflicted significant financial damage to the state government. The ED continues its thorough investigation, with additional arrests and revelations anticipated in the near future.