Ranchi, July 7 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday questioned Rohit Oraon, son of former Jharkhand minister and senior Congress leader Rameshwar Oraon, for several hours in connection with its ongoing probe into the alleged liquor tender scam and a suspected money laundering case linked to the state’s excise policy.
Rohit Oraon appeared before the ED’s Ranchi office after responding to the agency’s second summons. Earlier, both he and his father had sought additional time before appearing before the central agency.
Officials questioned him over suspected financial transactions, bank transfers, investments and his alleged links to the liquor tender case, sources said.
According to investigators, the probe is focused on alleged monetary transactions between Rohit Oraon and businessman Prem Prakash, who is being investigated by the ED in multiple cases in Jharkhand. The agency is examining whether funds allegedly linked to irregularities in liquor tenders were transferred to bank accounts or entities associated with Rohit Oraon.
During the questioning, Rohit Oraon submitted documents, including details of his bank accounts, Income Tax Returns (ITRs) and records relating to certain commercial properties, sources said. ED officials also questioned him over suspicious bank transactions and investments allegedly connected to the liquor business.
The alleged money trail came under the agency’s scanner after searches conducted at premises linked to Rohit Oraon during the investigation. The searches reportedly yielded documents, digital evidence and bank records that prompted investigators to further examine the suspected financial links.
The case relates to alleged irregularities in the formulation of Jharkhand’s excise policy and the allocation of wholesale liquor trade rights. The ED has alleged large-scale financial irregularities, claiming that a syndicate facilitated illegal financial transactions worth crores of rupees. The agency has also said Rohit Oraon’s name surfaced during the investigation on the basis of digital evidence and bank documents recovered during searches.
As part of the probe, the ED had conducted searches at around 34 locations across Ranchi, Dumka, Deoghar and Godda on August 23, 2023, including the residences and business premises linked to Rameshwar Oraon and Rohit Oraon.
The questioning has triggered a political row, with the opposition BJP describing the ED action as “a necessary step against corruption”, while the ruling alliance has alleged that central investigative agencies are being misused for political purposes.
The ED has not issued any official statement on the outcome of Monday’s questioning. No charges have been proven against any of the persons named, and the investigation is continuing.
