ED arrests Chhattisgarh Cong MLA and ex-min Kawasi Lakhma in liquor scam

Raipur: Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday arrested Chhattisgarh Congress legislator and former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma in connection with an alleged liquor scam probe going on in Chhattisgarh. Lakhma was produced before the PMLA Special Court in Raipur that remanded him to ED custody for six days.
Kawasi's counsel Faizal Rizvi told media that despite Lakhma supporting ED during questioning, he has been arrested. He claimed that he was arrested to impact the upcoming urban body elections.
On the other hand, ED lawyer Saurabh Pandey said, "From the statement of those arrested earlier in the case, AP Tripathi and Arvind Singh, it was clear that Singh used to send Rs 50 lakh per month from liquor cartel as Lakhma's share for being an excise minister. Besides, Tripathi during interrogation, has accepted that a sum of Rs 1.5 crore was being given to Lakhma, which means Rs 2 crore monthly was given to him for 36 months continuously. As of now, we have calculated the projected proceeds of crime worth Rs 72 crore."
Explaining about the modus operandi, Pandey said that an excise department person Iqbal Khan would deliver the money packets to Lakhma's home as well as the digital evidences from one Jagannath Sahu shows that the money was sent for construction of the house of Kawasi's son Harish in Sukma or for building Congress bhavan.
Lawyer Pandey said that Jayant Dewagan, then OSD of Lakhma also confirmed the delivery of money through Kanhaiyalal Kurrey.
"Since ED needed to investigate in detail about roles of others in the crime, we sought for 14 days ED remand of Kawasi, but the court gave remand till Jan 21," Pandey said.
Speaking to reporters at Raipur court, Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma said, "Not a single penny or document was recovered from my premises. They (BJP govts) are sending me to jail by implicating me in a fake case. This whole conspiracy has been hatched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai and the BJP govt to target a poor man (like me), to silence the voice of Bastar. This is also being done to affect the urban body elections in Bastar."
Replying to a question on Kawasi's allegations, chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai said, "ED is doing its investigation and anyone found guilty will have to face action."
Deputy chief minister Vijay Sharma who holds home portfolio said that ED has made the arrest under the case registered. "The case is clear and evidence has been found during raids," he said.
Opposition Congress has condemned the move by ED, accusing the agency of "harassing and defaming people across the country".
Former chief minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel took to X stating that the arrest of former minister and senior legislator Kawasi Lakhma, is an act driven by vindictive motives.
At the behest of their masters in the central government, the ED is conspiring to defame Congress leaders. The entire Congress party stands with Lakhma," Baghel said.
Leader of Opposition Charandas Mahant said, "The arrest of Lakhma is a living example of the BJP's national character and its spiteful politics.