ED makes third arrest in alleged ₹2,000 crore Chhattisgarh liquor scam

The agency had claimed that it has unearthed corruption and money laundering of multi-crore by a syndicate comprising high-level state government officials, private persons and political executives of the state government who controlled and manipulated the entire chain of the liquor trade in the state

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested one Pappu alias Trilok Bhatia, a Bhilai-based liquor businessman, in connection with the alleged liquor scam in Chhattisgarh, officials said on Thursday.

(Representative Photo)

The ED produced Bhatia in a special court in Raipur which sent him four-day remand. On Wednesday, the ED arrested Nitesh Purohit, promoter of Giriraj Hotel located in Raipur and produced him before the court.

The agency had told the court on Wednesday that Purohit was “aware of the illegal operations of Anwar Dhebar and willingly assisted him in the movement of proceeds of crime to Anil Tuteja (an IAS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre)” and another person.

The economic intelligence agency has also claimed that Tuteja, who is joint secretary in the department of industry and commerce, was the kingpin of this illegal syndicate along with Anwar Dhebar.

The ED had on May 6 arrested Anwar Dhebar, a liquor trader and an accused in the case, who also happens to be the elder brother of Raipur mayor and Congress leader Aijaz Dhebar.

The ED last week uncovered a multi-crore corruption and money-laundering syndicate in Chhattisgarh involved in an unaccounted country-made liquor scam.

The agency had claimed that it has unearthed corruption and money laundering of multi-crore by a syndicate comprising high-level state government officials, private persons and political executives of the state government who controlled and manipulated the entire chain of the liquor trade in the state.

The agency in a statement on Sunday said that it has “collected evidence of unprecedented corruption and money laundering to the tune of ₹2,000 crore between 2019 and 2022”.

According to the ED, the illegal, off–the–book sale of country-made liquor amounted to an estimated 40% of the total sale of liquor in the state.