ED Attaches Assets Worth ₹38.21 Crore in Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam Linked to Senior IAS Officer

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets worth ₹38.21 crore in connection with the ongoing Chhattisgarh liquor scam. The action targets senior IAS officer Niranjan Das (former Excise Commissioner) and 30 other excise officials, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

Scope of Attachments

• Immovable assets: ₹21.64 crore
  • 78 properties, including luxury bungalows, premium flats, commercial shops, high-end complexes, and large agricultural land parcels.
• Movable assets: ₹16.56 crore
  • 197 items such as fixed deposits, bank balances, life insurance policies, and diversified investment portfolios.

Investigators allege that these assets were acquired through illegal commissions, bribery, and manipulation of the state’s liquor procurement and distribution system.

Alleged Parallel Excise System

The ED claims that Niranjan Das and Arun Pati Tripathi (then CEO of CSMCL) ran a parallel excise network that bypassed official oversight. Key methods included:

• Use of fake holograms and illegal bottle types
• Direct supply from distilleries to retail shops, bypassing state warehouses
• Active collusion from excise officers ensuring smooth storage and sales of illicit liquor

Systematic Pay-offs

Investigators allege a structured monthly commission system:

• Niranjan Das: Allegedly received up to ₹50 lakh per month, totaling over ₹18 crore in illegal gains.
• Other 30 officers: Estimated combined illegal earnings of ₹89.56 crore.
• Funds were reportedly laundered through shell companies, front accounts, and layered investments.

Investigation Background

The ED’s probe follows initial findings by the ACB–EOW, Raipur, under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act. The case highlights:

• Substantial financial losses to the state exchequer
• Widespread collusion among officials responsible for revenue protection
• Distortion of the legal liquor market and erosion of public trust

Next Steps

The ED has indicated that further actions may include prosecution complaints and additional asset attachments as the investigation progresses.