The Financial Offences Wing (EOW) in Chhattisgarh Saturday performed raids at 13 locations throughout 5 districts in reference to its investigation right into a multi-crore liquor rip-off within the state. In line with officers, the raids have been performed in locations related to aides of former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma, arrested within the case in January.
Raids have been performed in Raipur, Jagdalpur, Ambikapur, Dantewada and Sukma districts, the EOW mentioned.
In line with the Enforcement Directorate – which can be investigating the case — the alleged liquor rip-off occurred between 2019 and 2022, a interval when the state had a Congress authorities beneath Bhupesh Baghel. Lakhma, a six-time MLA from Konta, was a minister beneath the Baghel authorities.
The case pertains to allegations {that a} prison syndicate, in connivance with excise officers, was bootlegging alcohol to authorities liquor retailers and extorting unlawful commissions from their sale. In line with the ED, the syndicate has amassed Rs 2,161 crore.
The ED claims that Konta, a tribal chief from Sukma, had amassed a complete of 72 crore over a interval of 36 months.
In an announcement to the press, the EOW, which registered a case final 12 months primarily based on the ED investigation, claimed that Lakhma was suspected to have stored the cash he had allegedly amassed with folks near him, who’ve in flip invested it. The assertion mentioned 13 groups have been concerned within the raids.
Necessary paperwork associated to the case, cellphones, digital gadgets, and financial institution and land papers have been recovered through the raids, the assertion mentioned, including that the police additionally discovered Rs 19 lakh.
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This comes two months after the ED performed raids on the residences of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his son Chaitanya in reference to the rip-off. Baghel had condemned the raids and referred to as it an act of political conspiracy by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP).
The ED had registered an Enforcement Case Info Report (ECIR) – the company’s equal of an FIR – in January final 12 months towards alleged mastermind Anwar Dhebar, Raipur mayor and Congress chief Aijaz Dhebar. Additionally booked within the case are retired IAS Anil Tuteja, former joint secretary in Chhattisgarh, ITS Arun Pati Tripathi, former particular secretary, Authorities Commerce and Business Division and MD; and CG State Advertising Company Ltd. Vikas Agarwal, amongst others.
The Congress has referred to as this harassment of its leaders. Reacting to the raids, Sushil Anand Shukla, the Congress get together’s communications head for Chhattisgarh, advised The Indian Categorical: “First ED, then Central Bureau of Investigation and now EOW. The Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP) is doing all this to harass Congress staff and leaders. The one intention behind these raids is to bother the Congress get together”.
In the meantime, calls to Lakhma’s son Harish for a response went unanswered.