According to persons acquainted with the situation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided over a dozen locations in the opposition-ruled states of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh on Wednesday as part of its money laundering investigation into the liquor scandal.
Officials reported that among those being searched is Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s political advisor Vinod Verma. At least 34 locations in Jharkhand were raided, including the residence of Rohit Oroan, son of Jharkhand Finance Minister Rameshwar Oroan.
As per earlier reports, ED will expand its Chhattisgarh liquor scam investigation to Jharkhand since the individuals suspected of involvement (in Chhattisgarh) had decided to replicate the same corruption model in Ranchi as well, but it was immediately halted once the agency initiated an investigation.
The ED also searched the homes of two of Baghel’s OSDs (officers on special duty), Manish Banchhor and Ashish Verma. Baghel’s aide, Vijay Bhatia, is also under investigation by the ED, and his home was raided.