Enforcement Directorate Raids Reveal Alleged Liquor Scam in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh

The Enforcement Directorate conducted raids at premises linked to IAS officer Vinay Choubey and others in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh over a suspected liquor scam in a money laundering case. The raids followed an FIR by the Chhattisgarh police bureau. Jharkhand elections are scheduled for November.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has carried out raids on premises associated with IAS officer Vinay Choubey, among other officials and businessmen in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, as part of a probe into an alleged liquor scam linked to money laundering activities.

Officials have revealed that searches are being conducted at 15 locations in Ranchi and Raipur. This follows a case initiated by the Jharkhand office of the ED, which acted upon an FIR filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Chhattisgarh police.

Targeted in these raids are properties connected to Jharkhand cadre IAS officer Vinay Choubey, state government officer Gajendra Singh, and various liquor traders. Choubey was notably the principal secretary to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren during the execution of the state's 2022 excise policy. The state is gearing up for upcoming elections with voting in two phases on November 13 and 20.

(With inputs from agencies.)