ED raids IAS officer and others in Jharkhand liquor scam-related money laundering case

RANCHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday raided premises linked to IAS officer Vinay Choubey, some other government officials and several businessmen in poll-bound Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh as part of a money laundering case related to an alleged liquor racket.

Officials said the searches are being conducted at 15 premises in Ranchi and Raipur after a case was registered by the Jharkhand office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation taking cognizance of an FIR by the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Chhattisgarh Police (ACB).

The premises of Jharkhand cadre IAS officer Choubey, state government official Gajendra Singh, liquor traders and associated persons are being searched, they said.

Choubey was the principal secretary to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren during the implementation of the Excise Policy 2022 in the state.

Jharkhand will vote in two phases on November 13 and 20.