The JMM accused the BJP-led Centre of using the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as political tools to win an election on a day which saw the federal agency team raiding several places in Ranchi in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam.

ED sources said that raids were held at premises linked to IAS officer Vinay Kumar Choubey, joint secretary of Jharkhand excise department Gajendra Singh, other relatives and chartered accountants of the concerned officials in Ranchi. Raids were also conducted in Chhattisgarh.

As per reports, the ED is searching at least 15 premises in Ranchi and Raipur.

The action was taken after registering a case under the PMLA at the Jharkhand office of the agency.

The ED took note of an FIR filed by the Chhattisgarh police anti-corruption bureau at Raipur which named Vinay Choubey, retired Chhattisgarh IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Anwar Dhebar, the brother of Raipur mayor Aijaz Dhebar, Arunpati Tripathi, an ITS officer and special secretary of the Chhattisgarh excise department, and four others.