The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has intensified its probe into the alleged Chhattisgarh liquor scam, conducting simultaneous search operations across 13 premises in the state on 30 April and seizing cash and valuables worth approximately ₹5.39 crore, officials said. The searches, carried out by the Raipur Zonal Office under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, targeted locations across Raipur, Durg/Bhilai, and Bilaspur districts.

What Was Seized

During the raids, ED officials recovered cash amounting to ₹53 lakh and gold jewellery and bullion weighing approximately 3.234 kg, valued at around ₹4.86 crore. Several incriminating documents and digital devices were also seized and are currently under forensic analysis. The searches targeted liquor traders, chartered accountants, businesspersons, and corporate entities suspected of involvement in handling or concealing proceeds of crime.

Scale and Scope of the Alleged Scam

The ED is probing the case on the basis of predicate FIRs registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Raipur. Investigations so far have indicated a well-organised criminal conspiracy allegedly involving political executives, senior bureaucrats, liquor distillers, FL-10A licence holders, and their associates. The alleged scam pertains to the collection of illegal commissions in the procurement, licensing, and sale of liquor in Chhattisgarh between 2019 and 2022. As per EOW/ACB chargesheets, the total proceeds of crime generated through the scam have been estimated at around ₹2,883 crore.

Key Arrests and Accused

The ED has so far arrested nine individuals under Section 19 of the PMLA. Those arrested reportedly include a retired IAS officer, the then Managing Director of the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL), the then Excise Commissioner, the then Excise Minister, the son of the then Chief Minister, and a Deputy Secretary to the Chief Minister, among others. The probe has spanned the role of distillers, cash handlers, hawala operators, licence holders, and political intermediaries.

Attachments and Legal Proceedings

Six Provisional Attachment Orders (PAOs) have been issued under the PMLA so far, leading to the attachment of movable and immovable assets worth around ₹380 crore. These include residential and commercial properties, bank balances, vehicles, jewellery, and shares linked to the accused and their alleged benami entities. Several of these attachments have already been confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority in New Delhi. The ED has also filed six prosecution complaints before the Special Court for PMLA cases in Raipur, naming 81 accused individuals and entities. The cases are currently being contested across the Special Court, the Chhattisgarh High Court, and the Supreme Court.

What Comes Next

Officials stated that the latest searches have yielded further evidence, and additional action — including more attachments and prosecution complaints — will be initiated based on the findings. Further investigation into the case remains ongoing, with the ED signalling that the enforcement net could widen further.