ED took major action on illegal business of codeine cough syrup worth Rs 2000 crore at 25 locations including Varanasi, Lucknow. Raids are underway on the main accused Shubham Jaiswal and his network. The joint investigation by UP STF, Police and ED has created a stir in the mafia network.
The black business of codeine cough syrup, which runs in the silence of the night, has finally come under the scanner. After months of behind-the-scenes preparation, secret surveillance and scrutiny of documents, now for the first time this illegal network has been attacked in a way that has shaken the mafia network of the entire state. After the formation of IG rank SIT by the Yogi government, on Friday the Enforcement Directorate started such action simultaneously at 25 locations across the country, the echo of which is being heard from Varanasi to Gujarat.
ED action on big locations in Varanasi and Lucknow
On Friday morning, ED raided more than 25 places in three states including Varanasi and Lucknow. Investigation is going on at Shubham Jaiswal’s house in Varanasi and the location of a cough syrup dealer in Khojwa. According to sources, central level forces are also present in this action, due to which it is being speculated that major action may soon be taken against the officers and white collar people involved in this network.
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Investigation of business worth more than Rs 2000 crore
UP Police, STF and now ED together are investigating the illegal business of cough syrup containing codeine worth more than Rs 2000 crore. This is the same black business due to which investigation was intensified after the death of children in Chhindwara, MP.
After this, raids were conducted in many districts of UP including Sonbhadra, Saharanpur, Ghaziabad and cough syrup bottles worth crores were recovered. More than 30 FIRs have been registered so far in this case.
Network in many states: Pharma companies and CA offices also on target
In this action, ED has targeted the locations of Shubham Jaiswal’s close associates, cough syrup suppliers, pharma companies and their chartered accountants. Along with raids in Saharanpur and Jaunpur of UP, the team is also active in Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi and Gujarat’s Ahmedabad.
Agencies busy in finding the main accused Shubham Jaiswal
Shubham Jaiswal is said to be the mastermind of the cough syrup syndicate. The police has declared him a fugitive and a reward of ₹ 25,000 has also been announced. UP STF has already arrested Shubham’s main associates –
- Amit Singh Tata
- Dismissed constable Alok Singh
- 32 people including Bhola Singh (Shubham’s father) have been arrested.
Investigation has also revealed that cough syrup was being supplied to Nepal and Bangladesh. In view of the possibility of money laundering, this major action of ED has been initiated. A few days ago, ED had also pasted a notice for questioning at Shubham Jaiswal’s house.
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