Former Chhattisgarh Official Arrested in Liquor Scam Investigation
ED Arrests Former Secretary in Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) announced on Friday that Soumya Chaurasia, a former deputy secretary to Chhattisgarh's ex-Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, has been arrested in connection with the state's liquor scam under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Soumya was apprehended by the ED's Raipur regional office on December 16 and subsequently presented before a special PMLA court in Raipur, which granted the ED custody until today, December 19.
Investigations by the ED revealed that Soumya allegedly acquired approximately ₹115.5 crore from criminal activities. Furthermore, the ED stated that evidence collected through digital records, seized materials, and written statements indicates that Soumya was an active collaborator in the liquor syndicate.
Evidence of Involvement in Money Laundering
In a statement, the ED confirmed that digital evidence supports Soumya Chaurasia's role as a coordinator among key members of the syndicate, including Anil Tuteja and Chaitanya Baghel, facilitating the creation of illicit funds and money laundering. Additionally, recovered chat records reveal her involvement in the initial organization of the syndicate, which included assisting in the appointment of Arun Pati Tripathi and Niranjan Das to significant positions within the Excise Department.
Previous Arrests in the Case
Earlier, several individuals, including former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Arvind Singh, Trilok Singh Dhillon, Anwar Dheber, and Arun Pati Tripathi, along with Kawasi Lakhma (a legislator and former Excise Minister of Chhattisgarh) and Chaitanya Baghel (son of ex-Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel), were arrested by the ED. The investigation was initiated based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Economic Offenses Wing of Chhattisgarh under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Police inquiries revealed that the Chhattisgarh liquor scam caused significant financial losses to the state treasury, with beneficiaries reportedly earning over ₹2,500 crore through organized crime.