Raipur
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has filed a fourth supplementary chargesheet, spanning approximately 1,100 pages, in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam case before a special court in Raipur. The chargesheet presents evidence of former minister Kawasi Lakhma’s alleged involvement in the scam, detailing how he received Rs 64 crore in commissions using codewords such as goods and sweets.
According to the EOW chargesheet, Rs 2 crore would reach Kawasi Lakhma’s bungalow every month. Excise department employees allegedly delivered liquor and bags of money along with daily supplies. This money reportedly arrived directly inside the bungalow in government vehicles.
The monthly Rs 2 crore was allegedly handed to Jayant Dewangan, Lakhma’s then Officer on Special Duty (OSD). Dewangan, with the help of caretakers, would then store the money in various rooms. EOW officials have collected evidence by recording statements from 27 individuals close to Lakhma.
The former minister reportedly invested this money in land, houses, and through trusted individuals. He allegedly built a house for his son worth Rs 1.4 crore and another for himself worth Rs 2.24 crore. Investments totalling Rs 18 crore were reportedly made in the names of his daughter-in-law, daughters, and several businessmen.
The chargesheet stated that a syndicate sold duplicate hologram liquor, referred to as “Part-B liquor“, through government liquor shops. For every case of Part-B liquor sold, the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL) received Rs 150. In exchange for this, Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma allegedly received Rs 50 lakh every month.
This money was reportedly collected by excise officers Janardhan Kaurav and Iqbal Khan with the help of agents, under the instructions of MD Arun Pati Tripathi. The money was then given to OSD Jayant Dewangan through excise sub-inspector Kanhaiya Lal Kurre, who then delivered it to the minister.
During a court hearing, Lakhma reportedly told the judge, “I am an Indian, not from Pakistan.”
Businessman Anwar Dhebar allegedly sent Rs 1.5 crore monthly to the excise minister from Part-B liquor sold through government shops. This money was reportedly given to Amit Singh by the syndicate’s main operators, Arvind Singh and Vikas Agrawal.
Amit Singh, with the help of Prakash Sharma alias Chhotu, delivered this money to locations specified by Inderdeep Singh Gill alias Inu, owner of Mahindra Bus Services, and Kamlesh Nahata. The money, Rs 1.5 crore per month, was left at the minister’s bungalow for OSD Jayant Dewangan.
According to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) chargesheet, anyone who delivered money to OSD Jayant Dewangan would confirm receipt via a WhatsApp call after verifying the money bundles. This confirmation was reportedly made using the mobile phone of Sheikh Sakat, Kawasi Lakhma’s security officer, and was confirmed by Lakhma himself.
The EOW chargesheet also reveals that Kawasi Lakhma allegedly arranged air travel, hotel stays, and vehicle bookings for his workers and relatives. These payments were reportedly made in cash. In 2023, bookings worth Rs 41,94,211 were made, with Rs 28,30,140 paid in cash.
Fifteen districts in the state were shortlisted for liquor sales. Shop operators were allegedly advised not to record the consumption of liquor in government documents. Duplicate hologram liquor was supplied to shops without payment of duty.
The syndicate initially set the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for this liquor at Rs 2,880 per case. Once consumption began, the syndicate members allegedly increased the price to Rs 3,840.
Distillery owners were initially paid Rs 560 per case for supplying liquor, which was later increased to Rs 600. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) found evidence during its investigation that syndicate members, in collusion with shop employees and excise officials, sold over 40 lakh cases of liquor.
Arrests in liquor scam case
2024 arrests:
- IAS officer Arunpati Tripathi
- BSP employee Arvind Singh
- Businessman Anwar Dhebar
- Trilok Singh Dhillon
- Anurag Dwivedi
- Amit Singh
- Deepak Duari
- Dilip Pandey
- Retired IAS Anil Tuteja
- Sunil Dutt
2025 arrests:
- Then Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma
- Businessman Vijay Bhatia
Chhattisgarh liquor scam explained
The ED is investigating the Chhattisgarh liquor scam, with an FIR lodged with the ACB, alleging a scam exceeding Rs 2,000 crore. The ED’s investigation found that during the tenure of the then Bhupesh Baghel government, the scam was allegedly orchestrated through a syndicate involving IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Excise Department MD A.P. Tripathi, and businessman Anwar Dhebar.
The scam was reportedly divided into A, B, and C categories:
- Commission from distillery operators:
From 2019, a commission of Rs 75 per case was allegedly taken from distillery operators, which later increased to Rs 100 per case in subsequent years. To avoid losses for distillery operators, liquor prices were increased in new tenders, and they were allowed overbilling for purchasing goods for their firms. - Sale of fake hologram liquor through government shops:
Distillery owners allegedly produced excess liquor. Fake holograms were used to sell this liquor through government shops. To facilitate the availability of fake holograms, A.P. Tripathi reportedly brought in hologram supplier Vidhu Gupta. Empty liquor bottles were also needed, and Arvind Singh and his nephew Amit Singh were responsible for delivering these to distilleries. Besides delivering empty bottles, Arvind Singh and Amit Singh were also tasked with transporting the fake hologram liquor. A.P. Tripathi was reportedly given the responsibility by the syndicate’s core group members to include shop employees and excise officials in the syndicate.
