ED arrests Chhattisgarh Congress leader Ramgopal Agrawal in liquor 'scam' case
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Chhattisgarh Congress leader Ramgopal Agrawal in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged liquor scam in the state, officials said on Tuesday.
They added that the federal probe agency will produce him before a local court here seeking his remand for custodial interrogation.
Officials said Agrawal, a former treasurer of the party, has been taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Agrawal was arrested in July by the Chhattisgarh Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in connection with certain "scam" related cases.
According to the ED, the alleged liquor scam was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 when Chhattisgarh was ruled by a Congress government led by Bhupesh Baghel.
The agency alleged that a "criminal" syndicate, involving senior bureaucrats and political figures, had "completely hijacked" the Chhattisgarh excise department, resulting in a "massive loss" to the state exchequer to the tune of Rs 2,883 crore.
It has claimed that the alleged commission generated through illegal sale of liquor was shared "as per the directions from the highest political executives of the state.
So far, the agency has filed seven chargesheets and named 85 accused, including Bhupesh Baghel's son Chaitanya Baghel, former Chhattisgarh Excise Commissioner Niranjan Das, former Joint Secretary Anil Tuteja, former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma and former Deputy Secretary in the Chief Minister's Office Saumya Chaurasia, among others.
