Input from the agencies: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids several locations of an IAS officer and Joint Excise Commissioner in Ranchi in a liquor case filed in Chhattisgarh. ED so far carried out its search operations in around 15 locations in Ranchi and Raipur. The case alleged 7 people, including IAS officer and the Excise Commissioner, for changing state liquor laws causing a major loss to state exchequer.
Chhattisgarh’s Anti-Corruption Bureau and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) filed an FIR against senior IAS officer Vinay Choubey, Joint Secretary (commercial and industrial department) in Chhattisgarh, Anil Tuneja and 4 more for amending state liqour laws, leading to losses worth crores to the government, as per sources.
Joint Excise Commissioner requested the Supreme Court to quash the FIR, which the apex court denied. ED is been investigating on the basis of ACB’s FIR which accused Choubey and others of introducing new eligibility criteria in tenders awarding contracts to the liqour syndicate.
Vinay Choubey, is a 1999 Jharkhand cadre IAS officer. He previously served as secretary to state chief minister and JMM leader Hemant Soren. His portfolio also consists of serving as secretary in Excise and Urban Development. Following Soren’s resignation in January 2024 in a land scam case, Choubey was transferred to Panchayati Raj department.
JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya accused BJP of using Central Agencies as political tools. “BJP is using central agencies as political tools in the elections. More raids would be conducted and leaked in the media. The fear that we had expressed before the state assembly elections has become a reality,” said Bhattacharya.
Refuting the allegations, BJP’ state spokesperson Ajay Shah said- “It is an old habit of JMM to raise questions over actions of constitutional agencies like Election Commission of India and the ED. JMM is sensing defeat and is making excuses.”
