5 months ago
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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Soumya Chaurasia, a suspended State administrative work serviceman who was Deputy Secretary successful the CMO during the erstwhile Congress government, successful transportation with an alleged liquor scam successful Chhattisgarh.
The ED's counsel, Saurabh Kumar Pande, told PTI that Ms. Chaurasia was arrested precocious Tuesday (December 16, 2025) evening and volition beryllium produced earlier a peculiar tribunal connected Wednesday (December 17).
Ms. Chaurasia served arsenic Deputy Secretary successful the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) during Bhupesh Baghel's tenure arsenic CM.
She is besides an accused successful the alleged ember levy scam and was arrested successful 2022. She was released from jailhouse earlier this twelvemonth aft being granted interim bail by the Supreme Court successful May.
In the liquor scam case, the ED earlier arrested Congress MLA and erstwhile excise curate Kawasi Lakhma connected January 15 this year, and Chaitanya Baghel, lad of erstwhile Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, connected July 18 arsenic portion of its money-laundering investigation.
The ED has alleged that Lakhma (71) was the main recipient of the proceeds of crime, receiving ample amounts of currency during his tenure arsenic excise minister.
It further claimed that Chaitanya Baghel was astatine the helm of the syndicate down the alleged liquor scam and personally handled astir ₹1,000 crore generated from the scandal.
According to the ED, the alleged scam was orchestrated betwixt 2019 and 2022 during the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government, resulting successful a nonaccomplishment of much than ₹2,500 crore to the State exchequer and amerciable gains for members of the liquor syndicate.
