<p>Raipur: Chhattisgarh's Economic Offence Wing (EOW) on Monday filed a 1200-page supplementary chargesheet in the alleged Rs 2,100 crore liquor scam naming arrested Congress MLA and former state excise minister Kawasi Lakhma as an accused.</p>.<p>The alleged irregularities took place during the previous Congress government under Bhupesh Baghel. Lakhma (72), a six-time MLA from the Konta Assembly seat (Sukma), was excise minister in this government between 2019 and 2023.</p>.<p>The chargesheet was filed before a special court here. With this supplementary chargesheet, the EOW has filed four chargesheets, including the three supplementary ones, and arrested 13 persons in the case. It is, however, the first chargesheet against Lakhma in the case.</p>.New India Coop Bank: EOW registers fresh case against ex-officials over wrongful loss of Rs 24.93 cr.<p>"So far, the investigation has revealed that Lakhma has received Rs 64 crore as his share as a result of the excise scam. The documentary evidence related to investment / expenditure of illegal money worth Rs 18 crore has been received," an EOW release said.</p>.<p>"The evidence and financial analysis have conclusively established that Lakhma neglected his duties and used the powers of his ministerial post to interfere in policy decisions, influence posting of officers, distort tender processes and established a parallel system of cash transactions. He operated the entire departmental system through corruption," the release said.</p>.<p>Under Lakhma's protection, a well-planned scam was executed through departmental officers, associates and contractors, and he used the amount gained from this act for his personal and family interests, the EOW release claimed.</p>.<p>The alleged liquor scam, as per the Enforcement Directorate, was orchestrated between 2019-22 during the Baghel government's tenure.</p>.<p>The ED, which has been probing the money laundering part in the alleged scam, had raided the premises of Lakhma at Raipur, Sukma and Dhamtari districts in December last year. He was arrested by ED in January and is currently in Raipur jail.</p>.<p>As per the ED, the liquor "scam" resulted in "massive loss" to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of the liquor syndicate with more than Rs 2,100 crore of illegal proceeds of crime.</p>.<p>Kawasi Lakhma was receiving Rs 2 crore per month from the liquor scam and, thereby, received proceeds of crime of Rs 72 crore in 36 months, the ED had said.</p>.<p>It alleged that Rs 68 lakh was employed in construction of the Congress Bhawan in Sukma, Rs 1.40 crore for construction of house of Lakhma's son Harish Lakhma in Sukma and Rs 2.24 crore for his (Kawasi Lakhma's) house in Raipur.</p>.<p>Earlier this month, the ED had attached these three assets cumulatively valued at Rs 6.15 crore.</p>
<p>Raipur: Chhattisgarh's Economic Offence Wing (EOW) on Monday filed a 1200-page supplementary chargesheet in the alleged Rs 2,100 crore liquor scam naming arrested Congress MLA and former state excise minister Kawasi Lakhma as an accused.</p>.<p>The alleged irregularities took place during the previous Congress government under Bhupesh Baghel. Lakhma (72), a six-time MLA from the Konta Assembly seat (Sukma), was excise minister in this government between 2019 and 2023.</p>.<p>The chargesheet was filed before a special court here. With this supplementary chargesheet, the EOW has filed four chargesheets, including the three supplementary ones, and arrested 13 persons in the case. It is, however, the first chargesheet against Lakhma in the case.</p>.New India Coop Bank: EOW registers fresh case against ex-officials over wrongful loss of Rs 24.93 cr.<p>"So far, the investigation has revealed that Lakhma has received Rs 64 crore as his share as a result of the excise scam. The documentary evidence related to investment / expenditure of illegal money worth Rs 18 crore has been received," an EOW release said.</p>.<p>"The evidence and financial analysis have conclusively established that Lakhma neglected his duties and used the powers of his ministerial post to interfere in policy decisions, influence posting of officers, distort tender processes and established a parallel system of cash transactions. He operated the entire departmental system through corruption," the release said.</p>.<p>Under Lakhma's protection, a well-planned scam was executed through departmental officers, associates and contractors, and he used the amount gained from this act for his personal and family interests, the EOW release claimed.</p>.<p>The alleged liquor scam, as per the Enforcement Directorate, was orchestrated between 2019-22 during the Baghel government's tenure.</p>.<p>The ED, which has been probing the money laundering part in the alleged scam, had raided the premises of Lakhma at Raipur, Sukma and Dhamtari districts in December last year. He was arrested by ED in January and is currently in Raipur jail.</p>.<p>As per the ED, the liquor "scam" resulted in "massive loss" to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of the liquor syndicate with more than Rs 2,100 crore of illegal proceeds of crime.</p>.<p>Kawasi Lakhma was receiving Rs 2 crore per month from the liquor scam and, thereby, received proceeds of crime of Rs 72 crore in 36 months, the ED had said.</p>.<p>It alleged that Rs 68 lakh was employed in construction of the Congress Bhawan in Sukma, Rs 1.40 crore for construction of house of Lakhma's son Harish Lakhma in Sukma and Rs 2.24 crore for his (Kawasi Lakhma's) house in Raipur.</p>.<p>Earlier this month, the ED had attached these three assets cumulatively valued at Rs 6.15 crore.</p>