The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has intensified its investigation in the disproportionate assets case involving Vinay Choubey, who is currently on remand and being subjected to sustained questioning. The probe has expanded to include his wife, brother-in-law and other close relatives, with investigators focusing on the source of funds, asset accumulation and the movement of money through multiple channels.
According to officials familiar with the investigation, Choubey was earlier arrested after preliminary inquiries indicated that his known income did not match the scale of assets and investments linked to him and his family. During the remand period, investigators are seeking to establish how the alleged disproportionate assets were acquired and the routes through which funds were invested or parked.
The questioning spans a wide financial canvas, including bank accounts, high-value property transactions, stakes in private companies and investments allegedly made in the names of relatives. Investigators are also examining whether proxy arrangements were used to conceal ownership and whether third parties were involved in managing or routing the funds.
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Sources said the ACB has recovered a series of documents and digital records that point to systematic layering of funds. These include banking records, transaction statements and investment papers that suggest the alleged illegal proceeds were circulated through different accounts and entities. Choubey has been questioned on shell companies, indirect investments and transactions allegedly carried out through intermediaries.
The investigation has also drawn in Choubey’s wife, brother-in-law and other family members, who have been questioned regarding property purchases, company investments and financial dealings. Officials said the questioning has revealed that assets and investments were not limited to Choubey’s name alone, but were spread across multiple family members, indicating a broader financial network.
A key focus area for the ACB is a Kolkata-based company named “Chetan Deal Mark,” which surfaced during the course of the investigation. Investigators suspect that the firm may have been used as a vehicle for routing or investing funds. The company’s bank accounts, directorship details, shareholding pattern and transaction history are currently under scrutiny.
Officials are attempting to determine whether the company was engaged in legitimate business activity or whether it functioned primarily as a conduit for money laundering. The financial links between the firm, Choubey and his relatives are being examined to establish whether funds were channelled through corporate structures to obscure their origin.
To strengthen the money trail, the ACB has conducted searches at multiple locations connected to the accused and his associates. During these searches, officials seized documents, digital devices and banking records considered crucial to the investigation. These materials have been sent for forensic and financial analysis to map the flow of funds and identify the origin and end use of the money.
On Wednesday, investigators also questioned chartered accountant Upendra Sharma, who handles the accounts of Choubey’s brother-in-law, Shipij Trivedi. Sharma was examined regarding company transactions, investments, income statements, expenditure and tax filings. Officials said the CA had been questioned a day earlier as well, but several responses remained inconclusive.
The information gathered from the chartered accountant is being cross-verified with banking data and company records to check for inconsistencies or undisclosed transactions. Investigators said further questioning may follow if gaps are found between declared income and actual financial activity.
According to officials, the investigation is now approaching a critical phase. Once the remand period concludes, the ACB is expected to move forward with the preparation and filing of a charge sheet. The expanding scope of the probe — covering family members, corporate entities and professional advisers — suggests that more individuals could come under scrutiny in the coming days.
The case underscores the ACB’s focus on tracing complex financial trails in disproportionate assets matters, particularly where funds are suspected to have been layered through relatives and companies. Officials said the investigation is being conducted strictly on the basis of documentary and financial evidence, and further action will depend on the outcome of the ongoing analysis.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
