Along with the investigations involving the excise, mining, and coal levy frauds, the Enforcement Directorate is also looking into a fresh paddy scam in Chhattisgarh. The central agency discovered various inconsistencies and got a lot of complaints concerning the state’s paddy procurement procedure while looking into the excise fraud case.
According to a top ED official, the state government raised the quintal price. According to the investigator, a group of government officials and rice millers established an unlawful racket through which they received “commission and cuts” for the acquisition.
It is being looked at as part of the overall investigation into the excise fraud since it is a predicate offense (an offense based on which the ED initiates a money laundering case).
The investigation into the purported excise fraud, often known as the liquor scam, showed how a connection between three distillery owners or distributors and a group of government officials resulted in a loss to the government exchequer of almost Rs 3,800 crore. In the state, only government-owned businesses sell alcohol; no private businesses exist. There are around 800 of these stores in the state, but according to the facts of the case, illicit liquor syndicates have begun selling unprocessed and unaccounted-for alcohol all over the place.
Arun Pati Tripathi, the excise special secretary who modified the alcohol regulation, was detained by the ED in connection with the case. Later, the agency also conducted investigations on senior sitting IAS officials in the state Anil Tuteja and Ranu Sahu.
Chhattisgarh is another state where the ED is looking into at least three significant scandals, in addition to West Bengal and Jharkhand, where it is looking into several corruption cases. In relation to the three instances involving the coal levy, liquor, and paddy scams, at least five top IAS officials were searched for and detained.
The ED said in a new statement on Wednesday that it had attached moveable and 91 immovable assets worth Rs 152.31 crore that were beneficially held by Saumya Chaurasia, the deputy secretary to the chief minister of Chhattisgarh, mining director Sameer Vishnoi, and two other people.
The adjudicating body (PMLA), New Delhi, received an initial complaint dated January 5, 2023. The adjudicating authority (PMLA), New Delhi, by its decision dated June 1, 2023, has affirmed ED’s attachment of the properties after providing chance to all defendants and hearing arguments from both sides,” said a statement.
In line with the Prevention of Money Laundering (taking control of Attached or Freeze Properties Confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority) Rules, 2013, it said, “ED has accordingly taken possession of 81 immovable properties and issued eviction notice in respect of 10 immovable properties.”
The statement said, “Additional investigation is ongoing,” adding that “ED has also taken note of the filing of another predicate offense in this scam.”
According to a senior official, the combined value of the two biggest frauds is now Rs 4,300 crore, which comprises the Rs 3,800 crore liquor fraud and the Rs 560 crore coal tax fraud.
