According to the ED, the syndicate systematically altered policy decisions, licensing norms and supply mechanisms to create multiple streams of illegal income. The agency has named former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, ex-excise minister Kawasi Lakhma, former chief minister’s son Chaitanya Baghel, former CMO deputy secretary Saumya Chaurasia, and several others as key beneficiaries. With the latest filing, 59 new accused have been added, taking the total number of accused to 81.
Investigators said the scam functioned through four primary methods. The first involved illegal commissions collected from liquor suppliers by artificially inflating the “landing price” of liquor paid by the state, ensuring kickbacks were funded directly from government payments. The second channel was the sale of unaccounted country liquor using duplicate holograms, allowing large-scale tax evasion and off-the-books cash generation through government-run outlets.
The third method focused on cartelisation. Distillers were allegedly forced to pay annual commissions to retain their market share and operational licences. In the fourth mechanism, a new FL-10A licence category was introduced for foreign liquor manufacturers, through which nearly 60 percent of profits were allegedly siphoned off to the syndicate.
The ED has categorised the accused into bureaucrats, political figures and private players. Senior officials allegedly drafted and implemented favourable policies, while political figures are accused of approving decisions and managing cash flows. Private individuals and companies, including distillery owners and logistics operators, allegedly handled illegal production, transport and distribution.
So far, nine major arrests have been made under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Some accused are currently in judicial custody, while others have secured bail. The ED has also attached assets worth ₹382.32 crore, including over 1,000 movable and immovable properties linked to the accused, such as hotels, land parcels and commercial establishments in Raipur and other districts.
The investigation, which began with an FIR registered through the ACB and EOW, is continuing. Officials said further attachments and arrests are possible as financial trails are examined. The case is expected to have significant political and administrative implications in the state.
