A file picture of Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Leader of Opposition in Jharkhand Assembly Babulal Marandi on Tuesday (April 1, 2025) wrote to Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari demanding an FIR and blacklisting of liquor agencies in the State. In a letter addressed to the top bureaucrat, he has highlighted the financial irregularities in the operation of liquor shops by Jharkhand State Beverages Corporation Limited (JSBCL).
“I want to inform you that JSBCL has been operating liquor shops in Jharkhand since the year 2022, in which 7 placement agencies are providing about 4,500 manpower for the operation and management of liquor shops in various districts of the State,” Mr. Marandi said.
He has further written that in 2022, JSBCL issued a tender for the supply of manpower for the operation and management of shops under the State and selected seven different agencies, but surprisingly the two placement agencies — Marshan Innovative Security PVT. Ltd. and Vision Hospitality Service & Consultants PVT. Ltd. — were selected for the supply of manpower in Hazaribagh and Dhanbad districts, respectively.
“While entering into the agreement, JSBCL deposited a fake bank guarantee and obtained the work order. Later, when someone came to know about this, they informed the departmental secretary about this fraud, but no action was taken against the agencies,” Mr. Marandi said.
Along with the letter, he has also submitted the evidence in the form of letters written by banks to JSBCL.
He pointed out that Punjab & Sind Bank, Geeta Colony branch in New Delhi, had written a letter to JSBCL on January 31, 2024 informing the organisation that the bank guarantee deposited by Vision Hospitality Service & Consultants PVT. Ltd. is fake.
Similarly, Bandhan Bank, Kolkata wrote a letter to JSBCL on March 2, 2024 informing the entity that the bank guarantee of Marshan Innovative Security PVT. Ltd., which has got the work of manpower supply in Hazaribagh district, is fake.
“JSBCL neither investigated it nor took any action. The officials covered it up and allowed the agencies to work. As per rules, such a big fraud should have been investigated and the accused agencies should have been blacklisted and an FIR should have been lodged,” Mr. Marandi said.
Lashing out at the government, the former Chief Minister said that it is a big example of economic crime.
“Despite the bank informing JSBCL more than a year ago, no action was taken by the officials against the agencies, which means that the officials of JSBCL are also involved in this corrupt game. Action should be taken against the guilty officials and they should be suspended,” Mr. Marandi said.
Highlighting the loss of State revenue, the BJP leader said that besides this, the two agencies did not deposit the amount of more than ₹25 crore of sales in the shop with JSBCL.
“I expect you to order an inquiry into the serious allegations against the two agencies, which are causing loss to the State’s revenue and are working by depositing fake bank guarantees, and also order an FIR and blacklist them, and also suspend the responsible officials so that such financial irregularities can be stopped,” Mr. Marandi said.
Published – April 02, 2025 03:20 am IST
