Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Raipur Zonal Office, has provisionally attached three
immovable properties worth Rs. 6.15 Crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering
Act (PMLA), 2002 in connection with Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam case. In terms of the investigation,
following buildingshave been found to be constructed out of Proceeds of Crime (POC) and have
therefore been attached: –
Congress Bhawan, Sukma, in the name of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee.
A residential house at Raipur in the name of Kawasi Lakhma;
A residential house at Sukma in the name of Harish Kawasi (son of Kawasi Lakhma);
ED initiated investigation based on FIR registered by ACB/EOW Chhattisgarh under various
sections of IPC, 1860 and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 in the matter of Liquor scam in the State of
Chhattisgarh.
ED investigation revealed that Kawasi Lakhma, the then Excise Minister of Chhattisgarh was
receiving Rs. 2 Crore per month out of liquor scam and thereby received POC Rs.72 Crore in 36 months.
Investigation conducted led to seizure of crucial pieces of evidences which demonstrated utilization of
cash by Kawasi Lakhmain construction of properties mentioned above.Cash worth Rs 68 Lakhwas
employed in construction of Congress Bhawan, Sukma; Rs 1.40 Crore was utilized in construction of
house of Harish Lakhma and Rs 2.24 Crore was utilized in construction of his own house at Raipur.
Kawasi Lakhma is presently under judicial custody.
ED investigation revealed that the corruption in liquor scam which ran between 2019 to 2022
resulted in massive loss to the State Exchequer and generation of more than Rs. 2161 Crore worth of
POC by commission of predicate offences.
It is pertinent to mention here that the said attachment is in continuation to the previous
attachment of immovable properties having value of nearly Rs. 205 Crore.
Further investigation is under progress.
