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The Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission accuses the owner of liquor stores in the Butler-Tarkington and Arlington Woods neighborhoods of forging documents required for alcoholic beverage permits.
Members of the ATC denied the renewal of alcoholic beverage permits for stores at 5561 N. Illinois St. and 5203 E. 38th St. during a June meeting. Jessica Allen, chair of the commission, said the Indiana Department of Revenue and the commission determined that property tax clearance documents had been forged.
The stores, owned by Central Indiana Package Group LLC, have been closed since the ATC’s ruling. Each store uses the name Dave’s Fine Wine and Spirits, although exterior signage at the Illinois Street store has not been changed since the shop operated as a 21st Amendment location.
Gurvinder “Jimmy” Singh identified himself as the owner of Central Indiana Package Group during an Alcoholic Beverage Board of Marion County meeting on June 2, or two weeks before the Indiana ATC meeting.
Although the Marion County board approved the transfer of an alcoholic beverage permit for the East 38th Street store, ATC Chair Allen said her commission reversed that action after learning information about the property tax clearance documents.
A valid property tax clearance shows that a business owner’s tax returns are filed and up to date. To be approved for an alcoholic beverage permit, a business owner is required to submit a property tax clearance among documents such as proof of address and floor plans.
According to Indiana statutes, the intentional falsification of an application for an ATC-approved permit is a felony that carries a maximum penalty of 2.5 years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. No criminal charges have been filed related to the ATC’s accusation that forged documents were submitted by Central Indiana Package Group.
A spokesperson for the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission told IBJ that the commission has a policy of not commenting on ongoing actions. Central Indiana Package Group is eligible to appeal the ruling.
Attempts to reach Mark Webb, the attorney who accompanied Singh at the Marion County meeting, were unsuccessful.
During the Marion County meeting, Webb said Jimmy Singh’s brothers, Jitender “Jay” Singh and Surinder “Paul” Singh, planned to exit the ownership group of Central Indiana Package Group to focus on their management of gas stations and convenience stores.
In Illinois, Jay Singh and Paul Singh face felony charges in a case based on the state’s attorney general accusation that the brothers and a business partner underreported more than $50 million in sales at gas stations from 2019 to 2022. That amount of alleged revenue translates into more than $4 million in tax liability.
The next hearing in that litigation, which includes multiple counts of theft, fraud and tax evasion, is scheduled for July 31 in Peoria, Illinois.
In Indianapolis, Jay Singh and Paul Singh own more than 10 properties using the business name Dave & Sons Properties LLC, according to Marion County property records. The company’s portfolio of gas stations includes BP, Marathon and Shell locations.
Dave & Sons is listed as the property owner of two Dave’s Fine Wine and Spirits locations: a store at 6951 Shorecrest Drive and the now-closed store at the intersection of West 56th Street and North Illinois Street.
The Shorecrest Drive and Illinois Street stores previously were part of the 21st Amendment liquor store chain.
Indianapolis-based 21st Amendment Inc. sold all 20 of its stores to US Liquor Group LLC in 2023. US Liquor Group subsequently sold some of the stores to other parties.
The now-closed store on East 38th Street previously operated as an Allied Discount Liquor location. Jay Singh is listed among “corporate personnel” on the alcohol beverage permit associated with this store. The permit transfer denied by the ATC intended to make Jimmy Singh its sole owner.
Overall, Marion County is home to four Dave’s Fine Wine and Spirits locations:
- 5561 N. Illinois St.
- 5203 E. 38th St.
- 6951 Shorecrest Drive
- 2654 Waterfront Parkway West Drive
During the Marion County meeting in June, Jimmy Singh referred to a store in Whitestown as the chain’s flagship location. In a Town of Whitestown video posted to YouTube in 2023, Jay Singh said the store is owned by Jimmy Singh and Baldev “Dave” Singh. The store’s alcoholic beverage permit does not list Dave Singh among corporate personnel.
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