Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam: ED arrests ex-CM Baghel's aide Saumya Chaurasia

RAIPUR: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday has arrested Saumya Chaurasia, former deputy secretary to ex-Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in connection with the alleged liquor scam. Speaking to TOI, Faizal Rizwi, Saumya’s counsel said that she was routinely summoned and after initial quizzing, she was arrested by ED around 5.30 pm.

She will be produced at PMLA court on Wednesday at around 12 pm.

The action was taken based on an FIR lodged with the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in the liquor scam case, alleging irregularities amounting to more than ₹3,000 crore. The agency had claimed that the scam was executed through a syndicate operating during the previous Bhupesh Baghel govt’s tenure.As per the ED’s findings, the alleged syndicate included senior IAS officer Anil Tuteja, former Excise Department managing director AP Tripathi and businessman Anwar Dhebar.

The agency had alleged that the group manipulated the excise system to generate illegal proceeds.The ED is continuing its probe into the Chhattisgarh liquor scam, in which named FIRs have been registered against politicians, excise department officials, and private businessmen. Investigations are ongoing, and further action is likely as the agency follows the money trail linked to the alleged scam.Saumya was earlier arrested in Dec 2022 the high-profile Rs 570 crore coal-levy scam and was granted interim bail by Supreme Court in May this year along with to six other alleged accused in the case, including two suspended IAS officers Ranu Sahu and Sameer Vishnoi.

They were released from Raipur jail. The apex court had directed that all released individuals must leave Chhattisgarh immediately and must not reside in the state until further orders, citing concerns about potential witness tampering. They were required to, submit their passports to the special court, inform local police of their new address, cooperate fully with investigation agencies and appear before the court when required.Saumya was residing in Bengaluru all this while.