ED makes two fresh arrests in Chhattisgarh liquor scam

NEW DELHI: Even as Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday claimed that the Enforcement Directorate has no jurisdiction to probe “offences like extortion and corruption”, in reference to its probe in the alleged liquor scam in the state, the agency arrested two more persons — Nitesh Purohit and Trilok Singh Dhillon — accusing them of allegedly “laundering bribes” meant for top politicians and bureaucrats.

The ED has claimed that during a search operation on Dhillon’s premises before his arrest on Wednesday, “illegal surveillance was mounted on ED’s operation with the help of an aerial drone by unidentified persons”. It has freezed bank deposits Rs 27.5 crore in the name of his firms and seized Rs 52 lakh unaccounted cash from his premises.

Both Purohit and Dhillon “were working” as conduits for the liquor syndicate and politicians. They allegedly carried bribes meant for politicians and bureaucrats from the proceeds of crime. The ‘proceeds’ were generated by selling illegal country-made liquor and off-the-book IMFL.

Dhillon, the ED said, was a prime beneficiary of proceeds of crime and helped other perpetrators launder the bribes and illegal cash collected from unaccounted sales of liquor.

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