According to sources, ACB-EOW teams simultaneously raided around 18 locations in Raipur, Bilaspur, Ambikapur, Kondagaon, and Jagdalpur. The action started early in the day, focusing on several senior officials, businessmen, and their associated premises.
In Raipur, the team reached the residence of former Excise Commissioner Niranjan Das in Rama Green Colony around 8 a.m. and began checking financial and electronic records. Another team raided businessman Harpal Arora’s home in La Vista Colony, examining property papers, bank statements, and documents related to financial transactions.
In Bilaspur, officers searched the residence of Ashok Tuteja, linked to the alleged liquor scam involving former IAS officer Anil Tuteja. In Kondagaon, the house of Konark Jain, associated with DMF supply contracts from 2019–20, was searched. Simultaneously, in Jagdalpur, officials carried out a raid at the residence of Chitranjan Das, brother of Niranjan Das.
Sources revealed that the current raids were prompted by fresh digital evidence and email trails obtained by the agencies, indicating suspicious financial movements, hawala links, and transactions involving liquor suppliers.
The liquor scam dates back to the tenure of the previous Congress government (2019–2023). Investigations have claimed that policy changes in the liquor trade benefited select private companies, resulting in the large-scale sale of illegal liquor using fake holograms and duplicate tax seals. A Noida-based firm allegedly manufactured fake seals and labels used to sell premium liquor without tax, causing a revenue loss of approximately ₹2,165 crore to the state exchequer.
Key figures already arrested in connection with the scam include former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma, Chaitanya Baghel (son of ex-Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel), ex-IAS Anil Tuteja, and Anwar Dhebar, brother of Raipur Mayor Ejaz Dhebar. Earlier, 28 excise department officers were also named as accused but later granted bail by the Supreme Court.
Today’s operation signals a fresh phase in the corruption probe, with searches still underway. Officials indicated that details of seized documents and assets may be released later in the day as the investigation progresses.
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