Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], June 27 (HBTV): The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Raipur Zonal Office, has provisionally attached three immovable properties worth INR 6.15 crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the Chhattisgarh liquor scam case, according to an official release.

As per the ED, the attached properties include Congress Bhawan in Sukma, a residential house in Raipur in the name of Kawasi Lakhma, and another residential house in Sukma in the name of Harish Kawasi, son of Kawasi Lakhma.

The ED initiated the investigation based on an FIR registered by the ACB/EOW Chhattisgarh under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, in relation to the liquor scam.

According to the ED, Kawasi Lakhma, the then Excise Minister of Chhattisgarh, was receiving INR 2 crore per month through the liquor scam, thereby accumulating INR 72 crore over a span of 36 months.

The official release stated that the investigation led to the seizure of crucial evidence indicating the use of illicit funds in the construction of the attached properties. An estimated INR 68 lakh was used for the construction of Congress Bhawan in Sukma, INR 1.40 crore for the construction of Harish Lakhma’s house, and INR 2.24 crore for Kawasi Lakhma’s own house in Raipur.

Kawasi Lakhma is currently under judicial custody.

The ED investigation revealed that the liquor scam, which operated between 2019 and 2022, caused a significant loss to the state exchequer and led to the generation of over INR 2,161 crore in proceeds of crime.

The latest attachment follows a previous seizure of immovable properties valued at nearly INR 205 crore.

Further investigation is underway.

(ANI)