Raipur
Retired IAS officer Anil Tuteja and his son Yash Tuteja have been apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in connection with the ongoing investigation into the liquor scam case. The duo had previously visited the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) office to provide their statements regarding the excise case.
Following their interrogation at the ACB office, ED officials transported them to the Sub-Zonal office situated at Pachpedi Naka. This move comes after the ED recently lodged a fresh ECIR in the liquor scam case, implicating both Anil Tuteja and Yash Tuteja.
In a related development, former excise department officer Arunpati Tripathi has been placed under ED custody until April 25. This action follows revelations from the ED’s investigation, prompting the Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) to file FIRs against 70 individuals, including former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma and the Tutejas.
During a court session on Thursday, EOW’s legal representatives pushed for the remand of Arunpati Tripathi. They cited findings indicating the existence of foreign bank accounts belonging to Tripathi, his spouse, and relatives. These accounts were allegedly linked to the liquor scam and necessitate further investigation.
The court was informed that Tripathi, during his tenure as Managing Director of Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation, purportedly tampered with the liquor sales tracking system for personal gain. It was alleged that Tripathi facilitated this by dispatching numerous communications to the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
As the investigation progresses, individuals named in the FIR by EOW are being summoned for questioning. The process begins with officers, followed by liquor industry stakeholders, and ultimately, politicians. Sources indicate that preparations are underway to summon former minister Kawasi Lakhma for interrogation.
