Lokayukta FIR Over Alleged Fake ₹2.75-Crore FDR in Bhopal Liquor Contract

A case involving an alleged fake fixed deposit receipt (FDR) submitted to secure a liquor shop contract has come to light in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh. The allegation concerns an FDR worth approximately 2 crore 75 lakh 33 thousand 335 rupees, which was accepted as security during the contract process even though the concerned bank denied having issued it.

An FIR has now been registered with the Lokayukta in connection with the matter. The role of officials considered responsible for accepting the document is being examined as part of the investigation.

The case relates to documents submitted for obtaining a liquor shop contract in Bhopal. The alleged fake FDR has also been referred to as an alleged fake bank guarantee in the case. According to the allegation, the document was accepted as financial security, opening the way for the liquor contract to be secured.

The most important question before the investigators is how the FDR was accepted despite the bank’s denial. The concerned bank has said that it did not issue the FDR. Despite this, the document was allegedly accepted during the contract process as a valid security document.

The investigation will examine at what level the authenticity of the FDR was verified. It will also establish who approved the acceptance of the document and how it was treated as valid without confirmation from the bank.

The role of former OSD and excise officer Deepam Raichura is also reported to be under investigation. The investigating agency will look into how the alleged irregularity took place during the contract process and what role the concerned officials may have played in it.

The inquiry will also examine the documents connected with the process, the verification of the FDR and the decisions taken by the officials involved. The question is whether the alleged irregularity resulted from a lapse in procedure or whether the rules were deliberately ignored at some level.

However, responsibility can be fixed only after the investigation’s findings are made public and the positions of the concerned parties become clear. The present allegations and the FIR do not by themselves establish the responsibility of any individual.

The case has raised questions about transparency in the process of awarding liquor shop contracts. Verification of financial security is an important part of such a process. If a document that the bank denied issuing was accepted, questions arise over the verification process and the department’s monitoring.

The Lokayukta investigation will now examine the authenticity of the documents, the role of the officials and the complete sequence of events surrounding the alleged irregularity. It is expected to clarify how an FDR involving such a large amount was accepted and whether the acceptance happened because of a procedural error or because rules were knowingly overlooked.

The central question remains: if the bank had denied issuing the FDR, how did the same document become the basis for obtaining the liquor shop contract?