The ED is examining alleged financial transactions and the involvement of private companies in the implementation of Jharkhand’s new excise policy.
Jharkhand Congress MLA and former state Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon (File photo: IANS)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has stepped up its probe into the alleged Jharkhand liquor scam by summoning Congress MLA and former state Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon, his son Rohit Oraon, and retired Excise Commissioner Amit Prakash for questioning.
The three individuals have been asked to appear before the agency on a specified date for interrogation and have been directed to carry relevant documents linked to the case.
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The ED is examining alleged financial transactions and the involvement of private companies in the implementation of Jharkhand’s new excise policy.
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The agency is also looking into the alleged role of Rohit Oraon in facilitating contracts for certain Chhattisgarh-based companies in Jharkhand, which officials believe requires further scrutiny. However, the ED has not issued any official statement on the matter so far.
The agency registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) No 10/2025 in connection with Case No 9/2025 filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). ED officials have also questioned some accused lodged in jail as part of the ongoing investigation.
The ED has taken permission from the Ranchi PMLA court to question and record statements of accused persons who were earlier arrested by the ACB.
The ACB had registered an FIR in May last year over alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand liquor policy. The case named 10 individuals, including senior IAS officer Vinay Chaubey, then Joint Secretary of the Excise Department Gajendra Singh, and Vinay Singh, as accused.
The allegations relate to irregularities in the implementation of the new excise policy, allegedly causing losses to the state exchequer.
The ED is investigating the money laundering aspect of the case and is trying to trace the alleged proceeds of irregularities, their utilisation, and the role of various individuals.
Rameshwar Oraon is a senior political leader in Jharkhand and is currently a Congress MLA from the Lohardaga Assembly constituency.
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