ED Launches Fresh Raids in Bihar Liquor Smuggling Probe

Speedy summary

• The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted fresh searches on August 13, 2025, in connection with a money laundering case tied to alleged illegal liquor smuggling.
• Searches were carried out at seven locations across multiple states: Muzaffarpur (Bihar), Gurugram (Haryana), Naharlagun and Namsai (Arunachal Pradesh), and Ranchi (Jharkhand).
• The raids targeted entities linked to Sunil Bhardwaj, identified by official sources as the “main kingpin” of the case.
• In the last round of searches related to this examination, assets worth ₹9.9.31 crore were attached by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Indian Opinion Analysis

The ongoing investigations reflect growing efforts by India’s Enforcement Directorate to crack down on financial crimes and illicit activities such as liquor smuggling using provisions under PMLA. Targeting multiple states highlights how organized crime often operates across jurisdictional boundaries, requiring coordinated enforcement action.

this specific case points toward significant accountability measures for economic offenses, with asset confiscation serving both punitive and deterrence purposes.Though, long-term resolution will hinge on robust judicial proceedings ensuring fair outcomes without undue delay-critical for reinforcing public confidence in anti-corruption mechanisms.

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