The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has revealed that former Chhattisgarh Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma, a senior Congress leader, was regularly receiving a significant amount of cash every month from the proceeds of the alleged liquor scam.
The scam, which took place between 2019 and 2022, is estimated to involve around Rs 2,161 crore.
According to the ED, Lakhma was the main person receiving the illegal funds during his time as the excise minister in the previous Congress government. The investigation showed that the money came from illegal commissions generated in several ways.
One method involved taking bribes from distillers for each "case" of liquor purchased by the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL), a state body responsible for buying and selling liquor.
The scam also involved the sale of unaccounted, "off-the-books" country liquor, with the proceeds never reaching the state exchequer. Instead, the entire amount was pocketed by the criminals involved, who sold the illegal liquor through state-run shops.
The ED also found that bribes were taken from distillers to create a cartel with fixed market shares, and additional earnings were made in the foreign liquor sector.
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These findings were made after the ED conducted searches on December 28, 2023, at seven locations in Raipur, Dhamtari, and Sukma districts. The searches included the residential properties of Lakhma, his son Harish Lakhma, and their associates.
During the operation, the ED found evidence that Lakhma had used the illegal funds in cash, and seized multiple digital devices believed to contain incriminating information.
The ED's investigation has also uncovered a liquor syndicate involving Anwar Dhebar, Anil Tuteja, and others operating in Chhattisgarh. So far, properties worth Rs 205 crore have been attached, and five people have been arrested in connection with the case.
The ED has also filed a Prosecution Complaint and two supplementary charge sheets, which have been accepted by a special court in Raipur.
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