Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], June 27 (HBTV): Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao on Friday said that the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is investigating the liquor scam involving over INR 2,000 crore, and appropriate action will be taken against the accused based on the findings of the probe.

‘In Chhattisgarh, a liquor scam of more than INR 2,000 crore was executed by forming a criminal syndicate. The ED is investigating that case, and action is being taken based on facts found in the investigation,’ Sao told ANI.

Responding to the Congress party’s criticism, he said, ‘In every action, Congress says the same thing — that the action is politically motivated.’

This statement came after the ED’s Raipur Zonal Office 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 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, regarding the liquor scam in the state.

The investigation revealed that Kawasi Lakhma, the then Excise Minister of Chhattisgarh, allegedly received INR 2 crore per month from the liquor scam, amounting to INR 72 crore over 36 months. The ED further stated that substantial evidence indicated the use of illicit cash in the construction of the attached properties.

Of the attached amount, INR 68 lakh was reportedly used in the construction of Congress Bhawan in Sukma, INR 1.40 crore in the house of Harish Lakhma, and INR 2.24 crore in the construction of Kawasi Lakhma’s own house in Raipur. Kawasi Lakhma is currently under judicial custody.

According to the ED, the liquor scam took place between 2019 and 2022, resulting in a massive loss to the state exchequer and the generation of more than INR 2,161 crore worth of proceeds of crime.

The ED noted that the latest attachment is in continuation of an earlier seizure of immovable properties valued at nearly INR 205 crore.

Further investigation is underway.

(ANI)