Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam: 59 Accused Appear in ED Special Court

Excise officials, bureaucrats and Congress-linked names face PMLA proceedings as EOW probe widens

Raipur Court Sees Rush of Accused

Raipur's special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court saw an unusually heavy gathering on Thursday as all 59 accused named in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam case appeared for hearing. The group includes serving and former excise department officials, liquor licence holders, distributors, and individuals with reported political connections. The courtroom activity underlines how the case, involving allegations of over Rs 3,000 crore in fraudulent gains, continues to draw in a widening circle of accused.

ED's Final Chargesheet Runs Nearly 30,000 Pages

The Enforcement Directorate filed its final prosecution complaint before the PMLA court in December 2025, naming 59 individuals and raising the total number of accused in the money laundering case to 81. The chargesheet runs into nearly 29,800 pages and covers call records, chat logs, banking trails, and financial transactions mapped over years. The agency filed the complaint in compliance with a Supreme Court directive asking it to complete the process within three months.

Who Is Named in the Complaint

Among the 59 newly named accused are Soumya Chaurasia, who served as deputy secretary in the Chief Minister's office, former IAS officer Niranjan Das, liquor licence holders, distributors, and field-level excise department officials. Niranjan Das served as the state's Excise Commissioner, while ITS officer Arun Pati Tripathi held the position of Managing Director of the state marketing corporation. Around 30 field-level excise officials who allegedly received fixed commissions for enabling illicit sales have also been named.

How the Scam Was Allegedly Operated

According to the ED, the syndicate generated illicit earnings through four distinct mechanisms — illegal commissions extracted from liquor suppliers by inflating the landing price, manufacture and sale of unaccounted country liquor through government-run shops, manipulation of supply zones, and cash diversion through political channels. The scam, according to investigators, was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 when the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government was in power, and resulted in a massive loss to the state exchequer.

Congress Office Staff Questioned, Treasurer Still Absconding

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has in recent weeks questioned four individuals connected to the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee office, including an accountant. According to sources familiar with the investigation, agencies have been closely examining financial records and transactions linked to the party's state unit. The PCC treasurer, Ramgopal Agarwal, remains untraceable and is believed to have been evading authorities for several years. Both the ED and EOW are reviewing documents tied to him.

Assets Attached, Key Arrests Already Made

The ED has issued multiple provisional attachment orders, seizing movable and immovable assets worth Rs 382.32 crore, including 1,041 properties linked to bureaucrats, politicians and private entities — among them Hotel Vennington Court in Raipur and assets belonging to the Dhebar and Baghel families. Former excise minister and sitting MLA Kawasi Lakhma was arrested in January 2025, while Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, was arrested in July in connection with the alleged scam.

Trial Phase Now Underway

With the final prosecution complaint taken on record, the case formally enters the trial stage. Courts will examine documentary evidence, financial records, and witness testimonies over what is expected to be a prolonged legal process. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear over 40 petitions related to the case, including bail pleas filed by several accused and appeals from probe agencies. Senior counsels have contested the manner of repeated arrests in the case before the apex court.

What Comes Next

Investigators have indicated that further disclosures remain possible as document examination continues. The EOW's seventh supplementary chargesheet in the corruption angle of the Chhattisgarh liquor scam has already been filed separately against Chaitanya Baghel. As the Chhattisgarh liquor scam moves deeper into courtroom proceedings, it remains one of the most closely watched corruption cases in the country, with its political and administrative fallout still unfolding.