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The Hindu
a day 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.
Mint
a day ago
- Politics
- Mint
Chhattisgarh: ED attaches Congress office and ex-minister Kawasi Lakhma's assets in ₹2,100 crore liquor scam
In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the massive liquor scam in Chhattisgarh, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached properties worth ₹ 6.15 crore, including a Congress party office and assets belonging to former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma and his son Harish Lakhma. This marks the first time the federal agency has attached assets of a political party under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The attached assets include the Congress Bhawan located in Sukma district headquarters, registered under the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee, a residential house in Raipur owned by Kawasi Lakhma, and another house in Sukma in the name of his son Harish. The ED's provisional attachment order comes amid a probe into an alleged ₹ 2,100 crore liquor racket that operated in the state during the previous Congress-led government between 2019 and 2022. Kawasi Lakhma, a six-time MLA from the Konta assembly seat and former excise minister in the Bhupesh Baghel government, was arrested by the ED in January 2025. His son Harish Lakhma serves as a panchayat president in Sukma. The agency alleges that Lakhma was a key figure in the liquor syndicate, receiving approximately ₹ 2 crore monthly over 36 months, amounting to ₹ 72 crore in illicit proceeds. The ED claims these illegal funds were used to construct the Congress office and the residential properties linked to the Lakhma family. The investigation revealed that the liquor scam caused massive losses to the state exchequer, enriching the syndicate's beneficiaries with over ₹ 2,100 crore. The ED further alleged that Lakhma played a pivotal role in policy changes, including the introduction of the FL-10A licence, which allowed license holders to profit from the foreign liquor segment. Despite being aware of the illegal operations, Lakhma allegedly did nothing to stop them and actively facilitated the syndicate's activities by manipulating departmental procedures. Following the attachment, a Congress spokesperson in Raipur condemned the ED's move as part of a political conspiracy orchestrated by the BJP-led central government. The party vowed to provide detailed accounts of all funds used in constructing the Sukma Congress office. Meanwhile, Bhupesh Baghel accused the ED of targeting Congress leaders to tarnish their reputation ahead of upcoming elections.
Mint
2 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Chhattisgarh: ED attaches Congress office and ex-minister Kawasi Lakhma's assets in ₹2,100 crore liquor scam
In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the massive liquor scam in Chhattisgarh, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached properties worth ₹ 6.15 crore, including a Congress party office and assets belonging to former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma and his son Harish Lakhma. This marks the first time the federal agency has attached assets of a political party under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The attached assets include the Congress Bhawan located in Sukma district headquarters, registered under the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee, a residential house in Raipur owned by Kawasi Lakhma, and another house in Sukma in the name of his son Harish. The ED's provisional attachment order comes amid a probe into an alleged ₹ 2,100 crore liquor racket that operated in the state during the previous Congress-led government between 2019 and 2022. Kawasi Lakhma, a six-time MLA from the Konta assembly seat and former excise minister in the Bhupesh Baghel government, was arrested by the ED in January 2025. His son Harish Lakhma serves as a panchayat president in Sukma. The agency alleges that Lakhma was a key figure in the liquor syndicate, receiving approximately ₹ 2 crore monthly over 36 months, amounting to ₹ 72 crore in illicit proceeds. The ED claims these illegal funds were used to construct the Congress office and the residential properties linked to the Lakhma family. The investigation revealed that the liquor scam caused massive losses to the state exchequer, enriching the syndicate's beneficiaries with over ₹ 2,100 crore. The ED further alleged that Lakhma played a pivotal role in policy changes, including the introduction of the FL-10A licence, which allowed license holders to profit from the foreign liquor segment. Despite being aware of the illegal operations, Lakhma allegedly did nothing to stop them and actively facilitated the syndicate's activities by manipulating departmental procedures. Following the attachment, a Congress spokesperson in Raipur condemned the ED's move as part of a political conspiracy orchestrated by the BJP-led central government. The party vowed to provide detailed accounts of all funds used in constructing the Sukma Congress office. Meanwhile, Bhupesh Baghel accused the ED of targeting Congress leaders to tarnish their reputation ahead of upcoming elections. The ED's raids on the Lakhma family properties in Raipur, Sukma, and Dhamtari districts in December 2024 unearthed crucial evidence linking the proceeds of crime to immovable assets. Kawasi Lakhma remains in judicial custody as the investigation continues.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Liquor scam: ED attaches Congress office in Chhattisgarh's Sukma, properties of MLA Lakhma, son
RAIPUR: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday provisionally attached the party office building of the opposition 'Congress Bhawan' in Sukma district, south Chhattisgarh, besides the properties owned by Congress MLA Kawasi Lakhma and his son Harish in connection with the alleged liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. A six-time Congress MLA Lakhma, who was a former excise minister, was arrested early this year and has been in jail since January 16. The value of the immovable properties attached provisionally by the ED under the Section 5 (1) of the PMLA, 2002, for a period of 180 days is calculated as over Rs 6.15 crore. And the Sukma district Congress office building is estimated at Rs 68 lakh. The ED cited that they are 'being attached as direct proceeds of crime' as the federal probe agency suspects the proceeds from the liquor scam were used to construct the Rajiv Bhawan, built during the tenure of Lakhma as excise minister, in Sukma.
Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Raids at 13 places linked to former Chhattisgarh excise minister Kawasi Lakhma, arrested in liquor scam
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Chhattisgarh Saturday conducted raids at 13 places across five districts in connection with its investigation into a multi-crore liquor scam in the state. According to officials, the raids were conducted in places associated with aides of former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma, arrested in the case in January. Raids were conducted in Raipur, Jagdalpur, Ambikapur, Dantewada and Sukma districts, the EOW said. According to the Enforcement Directorate – which is also investigating the case — the alleged liquor scam occurred between 2019 and 2022, a period when the state had a Congress government under Bhupesh Baghel. Lakhma, a six-time MLA from Konta, was a minister under the Baghel government. The case pertains to allegations that a criminal syndicate, in connivance with excise officials, was bootlegging alcohol to government liquor shops and extorting illegal commissions from their sale. According to the ED, the syndicate has amassed Rs 2,161 crore. The ED claims that Konta, a tribal leader from Sukma, had amassed a total of 72 crore over a period of 36 months. In a statement to the press, the EOW, which registered a case last year based on the ED investigation, claimed that Lakhma was suspected to have kept the money he had allegedly amassed with people close to him, who have in turn invested it. The statement said 13 teams were involved in the raids. Important documents related to the case, mobile phones, electronic devices, and bank and land papers have been recovered during the raids, the statement said, adding that the police also found Rs 19 lakh. This comes two months after the ED conducted raids at the residences of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his son Chaitanya in connection with the scam. Baghel had condemned the raids and called it an act of political conspiracy by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The ED had registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) – the agency's equivalent of an FIR – in January last year against alleged mastermind Anwar Dhebar, Raipur mayor and Congress leader Aijaz Dhebar. Also booked in the case are retired IAS Anil Tuteja, former joint secretary in Chhattisgarh, ITS Arun Pati Tripathi, former special secretary, Government Commerce and Industry Department and MD; and CG State Marketing Corporation Ltd. Vikas Agarwal, among others. The Congress has called this harassment of its leaders. Reacting to the raids, Sushil Anand Shukla, the Congress party's communications head for Chhattisgarh, told The Indian Express: 'First ED, then Central Bureau of Investigation and now EOW. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is doing all this to harass Congress workers and leaders. The only intention behind these raids is to trouble the Congress party'. Meanwhile, calls to Lakhma's son Harish for a response went unanswered.
