Durg/Bhilai, Sep 18 (NationPress) In a significant escalation of the ongoing investigation into the alleged custom milling scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) executed a raid at HUDCO Bhilai on Thursday. A team of four ED officials arrived at the site around 6 a.m. to commence an extensive search and interrogation that persisted throughout the day, according to sources.

This raid is reportedly part of a larger initiative aimed at uncovering financial irregularities linked to custom milling contracts, a situation that has raised serious alarms regarding the procurement and payment practices within the state's food and civil supplies sector.

The ED team is diligently examining documents related to land allocations, financial dealings, and contract records at HUDCO Bhilai, which are believed to contain crucial evidence in the developing scandal.

This operation is among several coordinated efforts taking place across Chhattisgarh.

As per reports, simultaneous raids are occurring in ten different districts, indicating a marked intensification of the investigation.

While the ED has not disclosed specific locations or individuals involved, sources reveal that numerous government offices and private entities implicated in custom milling contracts are currently under scrutiny.

The custom milling scam has garnered significant attention due to its extensive scale and potential political implications, with investigators suspecting that inflated invoices, fictitious mills, and falsified documents may have resulted in substantial losses for the state treasury.

Local sources in Bhilai have noted an increase in security around the HUDCO facilities, with ED officials restricting access and enforcing strict confidentiality regarding the nature of the documents being reviewed.

Interrogation of key personnel is ongoing, with additional summons anticipated in the near future.

This represents the second major raid by the ED in the Durg-Bhilai area within a month, highlighting the agency's heightened focus on financial crimes in Chhattisgarh.

While the state government has not released an official statement, a source indicated that the timing and scope of these raids could impact forthcoming administrative evaluations and public confidence in procurement processes.