Jharkhand Excise Scam: IAS Officer Choubey Arrested

**Senior IAS Officer Vinay Kumar Choubey Arrested in Jharkhand Excise Scam** Ranchi - In a significant development, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday apprehended Vinay Kumar Choubey, a senior IAS officer, in connection to a money laundering case tied to an alleged excise scam in Jharkhand. Choubey, a 1999-batch officer, was taken into custody following extensive interrogation. An ACB official confirmed that Choubey was subsequently presented before ACB special judge Yogesh Kumar in court. During his career, Choubey has held numerous key positions, including Secretary to the Chief Minister. He presently serves as the Principal Secretary for the Department of Panchayati Raj. The ACB's investigation focuses on alleged irregularities in the excise policy during his tenure as the excise department's secretary. The state government had previously authorized the registration of an FIR against Choubey. On Tuesday morning, ACB officials arrived at Choubey's residence, escorting him to their headquarters for questioning. The ACB also interrogated Gajendra Singh, the joint commissioner of the excise department. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier conducted searches at properties linked to both Choubey and Singh in October last year as part of its probe into the excise scandal. The ED's investigation extended to properties associated with several state government officials and liquor businessmen, executing searches at 15 locations across Ranchi and Raipur, the capital of the neighboring state of Chhattisgarh. These actions followed a criminal case filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the Jharkhand zonal office of the federal agency. The ED's probe took cognisance of a FIR registered on September 7, 2024, by the Chhattisgarh Police ACB in Raipur, which named multiple individuals. Those implicated include Choubey, retired Chhattisgarh IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Anwar Dhebar (brother of Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar), Indian Telecom Service officer Arunpati Tripathi, among others.