The raids started on August 23 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the liquor scam ended on August 24. ED has found many important documents during the raid. In this, a large part of the capital invested in the liquor business is recorded through the shell companies of Kolkata. A team of ED officials is examining the documents seized in the raid.
The ED has not yet sent summons to the Finance Minister for questioning in connection with the amount received from his house. Jewelery worth about Rs 60 lakh was seized from his house, but after going through the documents, the jewelery was returned. Jewelery worth Rs 1.14 crore has been seized from Vinay Singh’s house. The ED has given summons to Yogendra Tiwari and directed him to appear for questioning on August 26.
In the light of the CIR registered in connection with the liquor scam in the state, on August 23, the ED started raiding the locations of 22 people including liquor baron Yogendra Tiwari, Finance Minister’s son Rohit Oraon, Vinay Singh, former MLA Nirbhay Shahabadi. By the late night of 23rd August, the raids had ended at all the places except Yogendra Tiwari.
Yogendra Tiwari accused of monopolizing liquor trade in 19 districts
Yogendra Tiwari did wholesale liquor business in the state in the financial year 2021-22. In this, he is accused of forming a group and establishing a monopoly on liquor trade in 19 districts of the state. During the raids at the places of people associated with shell companies in Kolkata, details related to providing entry to businessmen from Jharkhand have been seized.
Yogendra Tiwari’s business group is currently involved in other business activities including liquor, jewellery, automobile, real estate and hotels. In March 2023, the Income Tax Department also conducted a survey in their business establishments. During the survey, he had accepted before the Income Tax officials that he had undisclosed assets of about Rs 15 crore. At present, the work of evaluation is going on on the basis of the documents found in the income tax raid.