Ranchi: The Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) investigation into the alleged Jharkhand liquor scam has intensified, with Rohit Oraon, son of Congress MLA and former Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon, failing to appear before the agency on Monday despite being summoned for questioning.
According to sources, Rohit Oraon has written to the ED seeking additional time to appear. His father, Rameshwar Oraon, has also been summoned and is scheduled to appear before the agency on Tuesday.
Sources said both Rohit Oraon and Rameshwar Oraon have separately informed the ED that they need more time to compile documents for their defence. The agency has not yet decided whether to grant their request. If they fail to appear on the scheduled dates, fresh summons may be issued within a week.
The ED is investigating the alleged money trail and the role of private firms in the implementation of Jharkhand’s new excise policy. The agency is examining Rohit Oraon’s alleged role in the process through which certain Chhattisgarh-based companies secured contracts related to liquor supply and manpower services in the state.
Investigators are also scrutinising financial transactions and digital evidence linked to the entry of a Chhattisgarh-based company into Jharkhand and the awarding of contracts under the excise policy.
As part of the probe, the ED had conducted searches at 32 locations across Ranchi, Dhanbad, Giridih, Deoghar, Dumka, Godda, Jamtara and Kolkata on August 23, 2023. During those raids, officials recovered ₹30 lakh in cash from Rohit Oraon’s residence in Ranchi. The agency is examining whether the seized cash is linked to alleged investments connected with the case.
The money laundering investigation stems from an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based on FIR No. 9/2025 filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) over alleged irregularities in the implementation of the state’s new excise policy.
The ACB FIR names ten accused, including senior IAS officer Vinay Chaubey, former Excise Department Joint Secretary Gajendra Singh and Vinay Singh, among others.
The ED is now investigating the movement of funds, investments and the role of individuals who allegedly benefited from the irregularities. Several accused have already been questioned while in judicial custody, and the investigation is now expanding to examine the alleged involvement of political and administrative functionaries.
With inputs from IANS