In a major crackdown on the Delhi liquor policy scam, the Enforcement Directorate arrested Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence late Thursday night. Kejriwal is currently on ED remand. The ED has tightened the noose around affluent politicians and businessmen following investigations into various scandals.
Following Kejriwal's arrest, the enforcement officer made history by detaining an acting Chief Minister for the first time. Let us take you through the career of ED's Additional Director Kapil Raj who has taken charge of several high-profile cases.
Kejriwal and Hemant Soren Fall Before Kapil Raj's Investigation
IRS officer Kapil Raj, from the 2009 batch, arrested Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on March 21st from his official residence. Before this, he apprehended Hemant Soren, the then-CM of Jharkhand, in a land scam on January 31st, 2024. Soren resigned just one hour before ED's formal arrest.
Originally From UP, Expert in Paperwork and Investigations
Hailing from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Kapil Raj completed his engineering degree from Lucknow and cleared the UPSC exam in 2008. After serving in his original cadre of Customs & Central Excise for several years, he was seconded to the ED seven years prior, where he served as the Deputy Director at the ED's Mumbai Zonal Office.
While serving in Mumbai, Raj tackled high-profile cases including the Punjab National Bank fraud involving fugitives Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. He also investigated Jharkhand's illegal mining and the land scam involving Hemant Soren, and, most recently, the Delhi Excise Policy case leading to Kejriwal's arrest.
Supreme Court to Hear Hemant Soren's SLP on April 1st—Read Here
Promoted to Joint Director and Transferred to Delhi
Raj, promoted to Joint Director three years ago, was transferred to Delhi. He was entrusted with the Delhi unit of the HIU (Headquarters Investigation Unit), during which he investigated many cases including the West Bengal coal scam allegedly involving TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee.
'A Mastery in Paperwork'
A senior official at the Enforcement Directorate praised Kapil Raj for his expertise in both investigations and paperwork, describing him as one of the best investigators in the agency. Moreover, he is renowned throughout the agency for his fearless nature, unphased even by the most powerful figures.
