ED raids residence of Chhattisgarh Congress leader days after arrest in liquor case
The Enforcement Directorate searched Ram Gopal Agrawal’s Raipur residence after arrest in a liquor scam linked to the 2019-2022 period when Congress led Chhattisgarh. Protests accompanied the raids as officials said other locations were being checked.
Key takeaways
- ED searched the residence of Ram Gopal Agrawal in Raipur amid ongoing liquor-scam investigations.
- Agrawal was arrested by the ED last week in a money-laundering probe linked to the liquor scam.
- The alleged period of the liquor scam is 2019-2022 during the Congress government in Chhattisgarh.
- Officials allege a network within the state Excise Department caused a substantial fiscal loss, with 81 accused named across six charge sheets.
What Happened
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a raid at the Raipur home of Congress leader Ram Gopal Agrawal, who was arrested by the central agency last week in connection with an alleged liquor scam. The operation took place in Raipur’s Audyogik Ward area in the Dhamtari district, with a large contingent of Congress supporters gathering outside as protests erupted. Officials said raids were underway at several other locations in Raipur, though they did not confirm which case these searches targeted. The ED attributes the liquor scam to the period 2019-2022, when Chhattisgarh was governed by a Congress government under Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Agrawal had previously served as treasurer of the state unit of the party and was also under inquiry in related cases tied to coal levies and rice milling.
The agency states that Agrawal was arrested on August 11 in relation to a money-laundering probe connected to the liquor scam, and he remained in ED custody as officials continued questioning him. The ED claims a syndicate of senior bureaucrats and political figures hijacked the state’s Excise Department, contributing to a reported loss to the state exchequer estimated at ₹2,883 crore. The probe spans multiple chargesheets, with 81 individuals named to date, including former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma and other former officials, according to ED and state authorities.
Why It Matters
Officials describe the operation as part of ongoing anti-corruption scrutiny in Chhattisgarh, where the ED and other central agencies have previously targeted opposition figures. The case highlights tensions between the central government and regional leadership, and raises questions about how revenue through the Excise Department was managed during the preceding administration. The ED’s case ties the liquor scam to a broader money-laundering investigation, amplifying political discourse around agency use and governance in the state.
Background
The alleged liquor scam is said to have occurred during 2019-2022, a period when the state was led by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s Congress government. Agrawal, then treasurer of the state Congress unit, is among those named in multiple ED and EOW probes. Earlier, Agrawal was arrested by the state’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in connection with a coal levy case and was separately questioned over liquor and rice milling allegations. The EOW and ED investigations are being conducted in parallel, with the ED alleging a hijacking of state excise functions by a criminal network within the administration and political circles.
Key Facts
- ED conducted a raid at Ram Gopal Agrawal's residence in Raipur’s Audyogik Ward area (Dhamtari district).
- Agrawal was arrested by the ED last week in connection with a money-laundering probe related to the liquor scam.
- The alleged liquor scam is said to have occurred from 2019 to 2022 under a Congress government led by Bhupesh Baghel.
- The ED alleges a syndicate of senior bureaucrats and political figures hijacked the State Excise Department, causing a loss of ₹2,883 crore to the state exchequer.
- Six charge sheets have been filed; 81 accused named, including former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma and other senior officials.
What Happens Next
Officials indicated further raids could occur at other locations in Raipur as the ED pursues linked investigations. The authorities have not disclosed which specific case the ongoing searches pertain to beyond the liquor scam context and related money-laundering proceedings.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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