In a sweeping operation, Chhattisgarh’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) have launched a series of raids aimed at uncovering a purported liquor scam amounting to an astounding Rs 6,000 crore.
Officials from ACB and EOW descended upon several key locations in Raipur and Bilaspur, targeting alleged wrongdoings within the Excise Department. The recent filing of a First Information Report (FIR) by the ACB has intensified scrutiny into the matter, indicating the gravity of the situation.
The raids, which commenced in the early hours of the Sunday, have focused on more than a dozen premises linked to entities such as Bhatia Distillery in Bilaspur, Welcome Distillery in Kota, and the residences of retired IAS officer Anil Tuteja and former Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand.
Furthermore, individuals implicated in these raids find themselves named in the charge sheets filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), accentuating the significance of the ongoing investigations.
The development follows recent FIRs filed by the EOW against two former ministers, legislators, and approximately 100 others in connection with liquor and coal scams.
Among those implicated are prominent figures, including former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma, former Food Minister Amarjeet Bhagat, and former legislators UD Minj and Gulab Kamro.
In response to inquiries regarding the recent raids conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the Economic Offenses Wing (EOW), Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai reaffirmed his government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.