Sat Jun 14 02:50:02 UTC 2025: ## Summary:
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets belonging to the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee, former minister Kawasi Lakhma, and his son, Harish Kawasi, as part of a money laundering investigation connected to an alleged ₹2,100 crore liquor scam during the previous Congress government. The attached assets, valued at ₹6.15 crore, include the Congress Bhawan in Sukma, a residential house in Raipur belonging to Lakhma, and a house in Sukma belonging to his son. The ED alleges that the scam resulted in a massive loss to the state exchequer and that Lakhma received ₹2 crore per month from the illegal liquor trade, totaling ₹72 crore over 36 months. The Congress party has denounced the ED’s actions as a political conspiracy orchestrated by the BJP.
## News Article:
**ED Attaches Congress Assets in Chhattisgarh Amid Liquor Scam Probe**
**New Delhi/Raipur – June 14, 2025** – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has escalated its investigation into an alleged ₹2,100 crore liquor scam in Chhattisgarh by attaching assets belonging to the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee, former minister Kawasi Lakhma, and his son, Harish Kawasi. The agency issued a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), targeting properties worth ₹6.15 crore.
The attached assets include the Congress Bhawan in Sukma, a residential house in Raipur in Lakhma’s name, and a house in Sukma in his son’s name. The ED alleges that these properties were constructed using illicit funds generated from the liquor scam that transpired during the previous Congress administration.
According to the ED, the investigation revealed that Kawasi Lakhma, who served as excise minister under former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, received ₹2 crore per month from the illegal liquor trade, amassing ₹72 crore over 36 months. The agency claims that this money was used to fund the construction of the attached properties, alleging that ₹68 lakh was used for the Congress Bhawan, ₹1.40 crore for Harish Kawasi’s house, and ₹2.24 crore for Lakhma’s house in Raipur.
“The Chhattisgarh liquor scam resulted in massive loss to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of the liquor syndicate,” stated an ED release.
The Congress party in Raipur has vehemently denied the allegations, claiming the ED’s actions are part of a political conspiracy orchestrated by the ruling BJP. A party spokesperson stated they would provide records of every penny used for the construction of the Sukma office.
This is the first time the ED has attached assets belonging to a political party under the anti-money laundering law. The investigation is ongoing, and Kawasi Lakhma remains in judicial custody after being arrested in January. The case continues to spark political tensions, with the Congress accusing the ED of acting on the directives of the BJP-led Union government to defame its leaders.
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