Latest news with #KawasiLakhma
India Gazette
an hour ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"For entire 5 years, they have done corruption": Chhattisgarh CM slams opposition for alleged Liquor scam
Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], June 14 (ANI): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the opposition Congress, accusing it of large-scale corruption during its tenure, in connection with the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam. Speaking to the media, CM Sai asserted that central and state agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), are conducting a comprehensive investigation into the case, and assured that strict action will be taken against those found guilty. 'For the entire 5 years, they have done corruption. Now, central and state agencies are investigating it, and action will definitely be taken against the culprits. If they feel that injustice is being done to them, then they can definitely go to court. And what can they do? They can do this only because they are in the opposition,' he said. This comes after the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Raipur Zonal Office provisionally attached three immovable properties worth Rs 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, Congress Bhawan, Sukma, residential house at Raipur in the name of Kawasi Lakhma and residential house at Sukma in the name of Harish Kawasi (son of Kawasi Lakhma) have been attached. In a statement, ED initiated an investigation based on the FIR registered by the ACB/EOW Chhattisgarh under various sections of the IPC, 1860 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, regarding the liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. ED investigation revealed that Kawasi Lakhma, the then Excise Minister of Chhattisgarh, was receiving Rs 2 crore per month out of the liquor scam, receiving POC Rs 72 crore in 36 months. As per the official statement, the investigation led to the seizure of crucial pieces of evidence, which demonstrated Kawasi Lakhmain's utilisation of cash in the construction of the properties mentioned above. Rs 68 lakh was employed in the construction of Congress Bhawan, Sukma; Rs 1.40 crore was utilised in the construction of the house of Harish Lakhma, and Rs 2.24 crore was utilised in the construction of his own house at Raipur. Kawasi Lakhma is presently under judicial custody. ED investigation revealed that the corruption in the liquor scam, which ran between 2019 and 2022, resulted in a massive loss to the state exchequer and generation of more than Rs 2161 crore worth of POC by commission of predicate offences, as per the release. It is pertinent to mention here that the said attachment continues the previous attachment of immovable properties having a value of nearly Rs 205 crore. Further investigation is in progress. (ANI)
India Gazette
5 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"ED investigating case, will take action after probe": Deputy CM Arun Sao on Chhattisgarh liquor scam
Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], June 14 (ANI): Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao on Friday said that the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is probing the liquor scam worth over Rs 2,000 crore and that, based on the investigation, action will be taken against the accused in the case. 'In Chhattisgarh, a liquor scam of more than Rs 2 thousand crores was done by forming a criminal syndicate. The ED is investigating that case, and action is being taken based on facts found in the investigation,' Arun Sao told ANI. Asked about Congress party's reaction to the case, Arun Sao said, 'In every action, Congress says the same thing, that the action is politically motivated.' This comes after the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Raipur Zonal Office provisionally attached three immovable properties worth Rs 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, Congress Bhawan, Sukma, residential house at Raipur in the name of Kawasi Lakhma and residential house at Sukma in the name of Harish Kawasi (son of Kawasi Lakhma) have been attached. In a statement, ED initiated an investigation based on the FIR registered by the ACB/EOW Chhattisgarh under various sections of the IPC, 1860 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, regarding the liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. ED investigation revealed that Kawasi Lakhma, the then Excise Minister of Chhattisgarh, was receiving Rs 2 crore per month out of the liquor scam, receiving POC Rs 72 crore in 36 months. As per the official statement, the investigation led to the seizure of crucial pieces of evidence, which demonstrated Kawasi Lakhmain's utilisation of cash in the construction of the properties mentioned above. Rs 68 lakh was employed in the construction of Congress Bhawan, Sukma; Rs 1.40 crore was utilised in the construction of the house of Harish Lakhma, and Rs 2.24 crore was utilised in the construction of his own house at Raipur. Kawasi Lakhma is presently under judicial custody. ED investigation revealed that the corruption in the liquor scam, which ran between 2019 and 2022, resulted in a massive loss to the state exchequer and generation of more than Rs 2161 crore worth of POC by commission of predicate offences, as per the release. It is pertinent to mention here that the said attachment continues the previous attachment of immovable properties having a value of nearly Rs 205 crore. Further investigation is in progress. (ANI)
The Hindu
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
ED attaches Congress office in Chhattisgarh; assets of ex-minister Kawasi Lakhma
A Congress party office in Chhattisgarh apart from assets of its former minister Kawasi Lakhma and his son have been attached as part of a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged ₹2,100 crore worth liquor scam that took place in the state during the previous government, the Enforcement Directorate said on Friday. A provisional order for attaching these properties has been issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The federal probe agency said in a statement that the attached assets include Congress Bhawan at Sukma district headquarters, which is in the name of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee, a residential house at Raipur in the name of Kawasi Lakhma and a house at Sukma in the name of his son Harish Kawasi. The value of these three assets is ₹6.15 crore, it said. This is the first time that the federal probe agency has attached assets of a political party under the anti-money laundering law. A Congress spokesperson said in Raipur that the ED action was "part of BJP's political conspiracy" and added that the party will furnish records of "each and every" penny used for the construction of the office at Sukma. Mr. Lakhma, 72, is a six-time MLA from Konta assembly seat and has served as excise minister in the Congress government led by former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel. Harish Lakhma is a panchayat president in Sukma. The agency had raided the premises of the Lakhmas in December 2024 at Raipur, Sukma and Dhamtari districts. The senior Lakhma was arrested by the ED in January. He is currently lodged in jail under judicial custody. "Kawasi Lakhma was receiving ₹2 crore per month out of liquor scam and thereby received proceeds of crime of Rs 72 crore in 36 months." "Investigation conducted led to seizure of crucial pieces of evidences which demonstrated utilisation of cash by Kawasi Lakhma in construction of these properties" the ED said. It alleged that "cash" worth ₹68 lakh was employed in construction of the Congress Bhawan, ₹1.40 crore was "utilised" in construction of house of Harish Lakhma and ₹2.24 crore was "utilised" in construction of his own (Kawasi Lakhma) house at Raipur. The ED has said that the Chhattisgarh liquor "scam" resulted in "massive loss" to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of the liquor syndicate with more than ₹2,100 crore of illegal proceeds of crime. It has alleged that the proceeds generated from the illegal liquor trade were used to build the Congress office in Sukma. The ED had alleged in a statement issued in January that Lakhma was "an integral part" of the syndicate (liquor) and "actively assisted" it by "maneuvering process and procedures as per their direction." It further claimed that Lakhma was receiving "not less than" ₹2 crore per month out of the proceeds of crime being generated out of the liquor "scam" that took place between 2019-2022. "Kawasi Lakhma was aware of the complete affairs of the excise department including the liquor scam, yet he did nothing to stop the illegal and unauthorised operations." "He played an important role in policy change which led to the introduction of FL-10A license in the state of Chhattisgarh," the ED had alleged. The FL-10A licence of the Chhattisgarh government allowed license holders to earn in the foreign liquor segment. The agency claimed it has been able to collect "evidence" linking the use of proceeds of crime obtained by Lakhma in construction of immovable properties. Baghel, after Mr. Lakhma's arrest, had accused the ED of acting on the directives of the BJP-led Union government and said the agency was conspiring to defame Congress leaders.
Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
ED attaches ₹6.15 crore properties in Chhattisgarh liquor scam investigation
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Raipur Zonal Office, has provisionally attached three immovable properties worth ₹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 release. According to the ED, Congress Bhawan, Sukma, residential house at Raipur in the name of Kawasi Lakhma and residential house at Sukma in the name of Harish Kawasi (son of Kawasi Lakhma) have been attached. In a statement, ED initiated an investigation based on the FIR registered by the ACB/EOW Chhattisgarh under various sections of IPC, 1860 and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 in the matter of liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. ED investigation revealed that Kawasi Lakhma, the then Excise Minister of Chhattisgarh, was receiving ₹2 crore per month out of the liquor scam and thereby received POC ₹72 crore in 36 months. As per the official statement, the investigation conducted led to the seizure of crucial pieces of evidence, which demonstrated the utilisation of cash by Kawasi Lakhmain in the construction of properties mentioned above. ₹68 lakh was employed in the construction of Congress Bhawan, Sukma; ₹1.40 crore was utilised in the construction of the house of Harish Lakhma, and ₹2.24 crore was utilised in the construction of his own house at Raipur. Kawasi Lakhma is presently under judicial custody. ED investigation revealed that the corruption in the liquor scam, which ran between 2019 and 2022, resulted in a massive loss to the state exchequer and generation of more than ₹2161 crore worth of POC by commission of predicate offences, as per the release. It is pertinent to mention here that the said attachment continues the previous attachment of immovable properties having a value of nearly ₹205 crore. Further investigation is in progress.
India Gazette
21 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Chhattisgarh liquor scam: ED attaches properties worth Rs 6.15 crore linked to Congress leader
Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], June 14 (ANI): The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Raipur Zonal Office, has provisionally attached three immovable properties worth Rs 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 release. According to the ED, Congress Bhawan, Sukma, residential house at Raipur in the name of Kawasi Lakhma and residential house at Sukma in the name of Harish Kawasi (son of Kawasi Lakhma) have been attached. In a statement, ED initiated an investigation based on the FIR registered by the ACB/EOW Chhattisgarh under various sections of IPC, 1860 and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 in the matter of liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. ED investigation revealed that Kawasi Lakhma, the then Excise Minister of Chhattisgarh, was receiving Rs. 2 crore per month out of the liquor scam and thereby received POC Rs 72 crore in 36 months. As per the official statement, the investigation conducted led to the seizure of crucial pieces of evidence, which demonstrated the utilisation of cash by Kawasi Lakhmain in the construction of properties mentioned above. Rs 68 lakh was employed in the construction of Congress Bhawan, Sukma; Rs 1.40 crore was utilised in the construction of the house of Harish Lakhma, and Rs 2.24 crore was utilised in the construction of his own house at Raipur. Kawasi Lakhma is presently under judicial custody. ED investigation revealed that the corruption in the liquor scam, which ran between 2019 and 2022, resulted in a massive loss to the state exchequer and generation of more than Rs. 2161 crore worth of POC by commission of predicate offences, as per the release. It is pertinent to mention here that the said attachment continues the previous attachment of immovable properties having a value of nearly Rs. 205 crore. Further investigation is in progress. (ANI)
