MP High Court Orders CBI Probe Into Liquor Trader's Suicide Alleging Bribe Demands By Excise Officer, Slams Police For Delaying FIR

The Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the CBI to register an FIR and investigate the alleged role of an excise officer in the suicide of a liquor contractor, observing that the concerned police station and higher officers had shown desperation to delay lodging of the FIR and appeared to be acting under the influence of the officer.As per the facts, the deceased had allegedly left a video suicide note alleging bribery demands made by the then Assistant Commissioner in the Excise Department. The bench of Justice Subodh Abhyankar observed that the amount which the deceased was seen talking of in the suicide note are huge figures, and coupled with the fact that he has committed suicide after recording the said video-clip, and the same cannot be brushed aside lightly. On the contrary, the court found, that despite the fact that the suicide note was delivered to the concerned police station in time, i.e., on 29.11.2025, no action was taken by the Police, and only a Cyber Forensic Lab Report dated 05.02.2026 has been obtained which states that it is not possible to verify if the video-clip has been made from the same mobile phone which was forwarded to the laboratory. It said:"In the considered opinion of this Court, so far as the report obtained by the respondent No.5 through a private expert, Retired Assistant Director of CFSL is concerned, wherein it is opined that the video is tampered with, non-continuous and selectively edited, the same cannot be relied upon at this juncture of the investigation to discard the said suicide note. This Court is of the considered opinion that the desperation on the part of the concerned police station and the higher officers concerned to delay the lodging of the FIR requires desperate measure from this Court to expedite the matter.Under the circumstances, this Court has no hesitation to hold that the efforts are being made to brush under the carpet the suicide of Dinesh Makwana who has also left a suicide note in the form of a video clip, as apparently, the concerned police station is acting under the influence of respondent No.5, who was posted as Assistant Commissioner of Excise". Taking note of the circumstances, coupled with the another video-clip filed by the petitioner mother, the court directed:"this Court is of the considered opinion that prima facie the material exists to lodge the FIR and to proceed with the investigation in accordance with law. However, since the respondents have already shown their disinclination to lodge the FIR, and the manner in which the entire investigation is being conducted, with a view to have the case investigated in a free and fair manner, this Court deems it proper to have the FIR lodged and the investigation completed through the CBI". A petition was filed by the mother of the deceased liquor businessman Dinesh Makwana, who died by suicide on November 8, 2025. Per the petitioner, Makwana consumed Celphos after facing sustained harassment and alleged bribery demands from the then Assistant Commissioner in the Excise Department at Dewas. The petitioner claimed that despite the suicide video left behind by Makwana, the local police failed to register an FIR or conduct a proper investigation. In the said video, Makwana alleged that the excise officer demanded ₹1.5 lakhs per month from each liquor shop operated by him and also sought a ₹10 commission on every bottle sold. He stated that he had already paid ₹20-22 lakhs and was unable to continue payments due to business losses. Makwarna further alleged that the liquor supply from warehouses was being obstructed until payments were made, leading him to take extreme steps. The respondent officer opposed the petition, arguing that the video clip had been tampered with and was selectively edited, claiming that the private forensic expert had found inconsistencies in the recording. It was further argued that the deceased was already under financial pressure due to excise dues of ₹34 lakhs. The counsel for the officer argued that the departmental recovery proceedings and the threat of licence cancellation may have pushed the deceased into distress, rather than any alleged harassment. The counsel for the State also cited a cyber forensic laboratory report suggesting that the suicide video was transferred from another device and not originally recorded on the mobile phone submitted for examination. The court noted that the allegations in the suicide note were serious and could not be ignored merely because the video had reportedly been recorded more than a month before the suicide. Observing that a fair and impartial probe was unlikely through local police, the court transferred the investigation to the CBI, directing them to register an FIR and initiate an investigation. Case Title: Santosh v State of Madhya Pradesh, W.P. No.47622-2025For Petitioner: Advocate Ashish GuptaFor State: Government Advocate Hemant SharmaFor the accused excise officer: Senior Advocate S. K. Vyas with...

MP High Court Orders CBI Probe Into Liquor Trader's Suicide Alleging Bribe Demands By Excise Officer, Slams Police For Delaying FIR

Jayanti Pahwa

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MP High Court Orders CBI Probe Into Liquor Trader's Suicide Alleging Bribe Demands By Excise Officer, Slams Police For Delaying FIR

Jayanti Pahwa

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INR 1099+GST

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