RAIPUR: ED arrested Wed nesday Chhattisgarh Congress legislator Kawasi Lakhma in connection with an alleged liquor scam. Lakhma is accused of receiving monthly cuts from a liquor cartel during his tenure as excise minister, a charge he has denied.
Lakhma was produced before PMLA Special Court in Raipur, which remanded him to ED custody for six days. His counsel Faizal Rizvi contended that the arrest was politically motivated, aimed at influencing the upcoming urban civic elections.
According to ED lawyer Saurabh Pandey, the arrest was based on testimonies from two men taken into custody earlier – AP Tripathi and Arvind Singh.
“Singh used to send Rs 50 lakh a month from the liquor cartel as Lakhma’s share… Besides, Tripathi during interrogation, has accepted that a sum of Rs 1.5 crore was being given to Lakhma, which means Rs 2 crore monthly was given to him for 36 months continuously,” Pandey said. The total amount allegedly paid to Lakhma is projected at Rs 72 crore.
Pandey said excise department personnel, such as Iqbal Khan, were involved in delivering the funds, with digital evidence supporting the claim that the money was used for personal and party-related expenditures.
Congress and Lakhma condemned the arrest, labelling the case as a conspiracy by top BJP politicians.
“Not a single penny or document was found on my premises. They (BJP govts) are sending me to jail by charging me in a fake case. This whole conspiracy has been hatched by PM Modi, home minister Amit Shah, CM Vishnu Deo Sai…” Lakhma alleged.
Former CM Bhupesh Baghel and Charandas Mahant accused BJP-led central govt of using ED to target opposition figures in Chhattisgarh. In response, CM Sai said: “ED is doing its investigation and anyone found guilty will have to face action.” Deputy CM Vijay Sharma said evidence gathered during searches justifies the arrest.
