Varanasi Authorities Crack Down on Fugitive Kingpin's Liquor Empire
In a significant blow to the criminal operations of fugitive codeine cough syrup smuggling kingpin Shubham Jaiswal, police and excise officials in Varanasi have seized four liquor shops linked to his syndicate. The joint action, carried out late Saturday, targeted establishments licensed in the names of women associated with Jaiswal, revealing a sophisticated network used to launder illicit profits.
Joint Raid Uncovers Illegal Operations
The coordinated operation involved teams from the Kotwali police station and the excise department meticulously scanning all documents and records of liquor shops allocated to syndicate members. Following a thorough investigation, authorities sealed four composite shops located across Varanasi:
- The Lehartara shop licensed in the name of Shivangi Jaiswal
- The Paredkothi outlet licensed to Babita Singh
- The Kazzakpura establishment under Usha Devi's name
- The Khojwa shop licensed to Radhika Jaiswal
Additionally, the guarantee money for two more shops was forfeited—the Madhopur (Shastrinagar) composite shop licensed to Jaiswal's wife Vaishali Pursvani, and the Shahabad shop under Rekha Devi's name.
Hawala Network Exposed
Investigations have uncovered that Shubham Jaiswal's syndicate controlled at least six English liquor shops in Varanasi. The profits from these establishments were allegedly funneled to the fugitive kingpin through hawala channels—an illegal money transfer system that bypasses formal banking channels.
Kotwali police station inspector Daya Shankar Singh confirmed that the joint team's Saturday evening operation revealed systematic violations in how these liquor shop licenses were obtained and operated. The shops, all licensed in women's names through lottery allocations, were found to be operating in clear violation of regulations.
Legal Actions and Previous Arrests
Police and excise officials have submitted a detailed report to the district magistrate, who has responded by ordering the suspension of licenses and issuing show-cause notices to four of the seized shops. This action follows earlier arrests made on April 7, when several women connected to the syndicate were taken into custody.
Those arrested included Radhika Jaiswal (mother of Jaiswal's jailed hawala trade manager Vaibhav Jaiswal), Shivangi Jaiswal of Navapura, Usha Devi of Bhardwaji Tola, Rekha Devi, and Babita Singh of Kayasth Tola. However, the court subsequently released them due to insufficient evidence at that time.
Criminal Enterprise Structure Revealed
Further investigation by Kotwali police and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has exposed the sophisticated structure of Jaiswal's criminal enterprise. The syndicate allegedly used liquor shops as fronts to launder black money generated from illegal codeine cough syrup sales.
Police flagged the women for alleged collusion in hawala operations, with investigations revealing that Shubham Jaiswal and his jailed father Bhola Prasad were systematically laundering illicit funds through these liquor businesses. Vaibhav Jaiswal, the jailed hawala manager, allegedly transferred shop income directly to the fugitive kingpin through hawala channels.
By examining bank statements and financial documents, authorities discovered that Jaiswal had formed strategic associations with others to control profits from the six English liquor shops. The syndicate incorporated individuals from various trades to expand their business operations while maintaining a facade of legitimacy.
The crackdown represents a significant disruption to Jaiswal's criminal network, which had been using women as fronts to operate liquor businesses while funneling illegal profits from codeine smuggling through hawala transfers. Authorities continue their investigation into the full extent of the syndicate's operations across Varanasi and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
