The Enforcement Directorate’s Raipur Zonal Office struck hard against the Chhattisgarh liquor syndicate, raiding 13 premises in Raipur, Durg/Bhilai, and Bilaspur on April 30. Invoking PMLA provisions, the agency zeroed in on networks laundering scam-generated funds through gold, cash, and shell entities.
Announcing the bust via press release, ED revealed cash seizures of Rs 53 lakh alongside gold ornaments weighing 3.234 kg, pegged at Rs 4.86 crore – a combined Rs 5.39 crore windfall. Seized documents and digital data promise deeper revelations into the graft web.
Rooted in EOW/ACB’s FIR, the investigation exposes a 2019-2022 racket extracting illicit commissions from liquor business across procurement, licensing, and distribution. The chargesheet quantifies laundered money at Rs 2,883 crore, implicating high-profile politicians, IAS officers, distillery owners, and license barons.
Nine arrests under PMLA include heavyweights like a retired IAS, CSMC MD, Excise Commissioner, Minister, CM’s son, and OSD. Trails lead to hawala channels, cash couriers, and benami holdings.
Six PAOs have frozen Rs 380 crore in assets – flats, offices, cars, bling, stocks – ratified by authorities. Prosecution complaints against 81 targets proceed in special courts, with apex court oversight.
These raids yield critical leads, setting stage for more confiscations and trials in one of India’s largest liquor corruption sagas.
