Cash worth ₹53 lakh and gold jewellery and bullion worth more than ₹4 crore were seized during fresh searches conducted in a money laundering probe linked to the alleged ₹2,800-crore Chhattisgarh liquor scam, the ED said on Sunday. The premises of liquor traders, chartered accountants, businessmen and corporate entities located in Raipur, Durg, Bhilai (Durg district) and Bilaspur were raided on April 30.
These entities are suspected to have received, handled, layered, or concealed the proceeds of crime generated through the said "scam", the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said in a statement.
Cash worth ₹53 lakh and 3.23 kg gold jewellery and bullion valued at ₹4.86 crore were seized during these searches, apart from the recovery of "incriminating" documents and digital devices, it said.
The central agency has earlier conducted multiple rounds of searches in this case and attached assets worth ₹380 crore so far.
The alleged liquor scam in Chhattisgarh was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 under the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government, according to the ED.
The ED has alleged that a "criminal" syndicate, involving senior bureaucrats and political figures of the state "completely hijacked" the Chhattisgarh excise department, resulting in a "massive loss" to the state exchequer and the proceeds of crime have been quantified at ₹2,883 crore.
So far, the agency has filed six chargesheets and named 81 accused, including Chaitanya Baghel, son of former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, IAS officer and former Chhattisgarh excise commissioner Niranjan Das, former joint secretary and retired IAS officer Anil Tuteja, former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma and former deputy secretary in the CM's office Saumya Chaurasia, among others.
These accused have challenged ED proceedings before multiple courts up to the Supreme Court.
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