Ranchi, June 28 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing the high-profile Jharkhand liquor scam, has issued summons to Congress MLA and former state Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon, his son Rohit Oraon, and retired Excise Commissioner Amit Prakash for questioning.
All three individuals have been asked to appear on a specified date for interrogation. They have also been asked to bring along relevant documents related to the case.
The ED is examining alleged financial transactions and the role of various private companies in the implementation of Jharkhand’s new excise policy.
The agency believes that Rohit Oraon’s role in facilitating contracts for certain Chhattisgarh-based companies in Jharkhand may require further scrutiny.
However, the ED has not issued any official statement on the issue so far.
The agency registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) No 10/2025 in connection with Case No 9/2025 lodged by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Subsequently, ED officials also questioned some of the accused in jail as part of the ongoing probe.
The ED has taken permission from the Ranchi PMLA court to question and record statements of the accused who were arrested by the ACB earlier
Notably, the ACB had registered an FIR in May last year over alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand liquor policy. In that case, 10 individuals, including senior IAS officer Vinay Chaubey, then Joint Secretary of the Excise Department Gajendra Singh, and Vinay Singh, were named as accused.
The allegations pertain to irregularities in the implementation of the new excise policy, resulting in losses to the state exchequer.
The ED is investigating the money laundering aspect of the case. The agency is trying to trace how the alleged proceeds of irregularities were utilised and the involvement of various individuals.
Rameshwar Oraon is a senior political leader in Jharkhand and is currently a Congress MLA from the Lohardaga Assembly constituency.
–IANS
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