Chhattisgarh liquor 'scam': 22 excise officials named in EOW chargesheet suspended by Sai govt

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has taken decisive action against alleged large-scale corruption by suspending 22 excise officials in connection with the ongoing investigation into the ₹3,200 crore liquor scam that occurred during the previous Congress-led government.

The officials suspended include 12 Assistant Commissioners, five Deputy Commissioners, three District Excise Officers, and two Assistant District Excise Officers. Their names appeared in the fourth supplementary chargesheet filed by the state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on July 7.

The liquor scam, initially pegged at ₹2,161 crore, has grown to an estimated ₹3,200 crore, with investigations uncovering a wide-ranging network of illegal liquor sales and unaccounted commissions, especially in high-consumption districts. Officials were allegedly involved in enabling the sale of untaxed country liquor and facilitating kickbacks.

“Several scams took place during the previous Congress government. Every case is being thoroughly investigated by both central and state agencies. No one found guilty will be spared. Our government is committed to clean and accountable governance,” said Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, reaffirming his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption.

To date, five chargesheets have been submitted in the case, and 13 individuals have been arrested. Among those apprehended are former Excise Minister and sitting Congress MLA Kawasi Lakhma, former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, and businessman Anwar Dhebar. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also actively investigating the money laundering angle linked to the scam, with its roots traced back to the period between 2019 and 2022.

CM Sai’s latest action underscores his administration’s resolve to ensure transparency and accountability in governance. Within six months of taking office, he introduced a new excise policy aimed at eliminating corruption and middlemen in liquor trade operations. According to the policy, the government will now directly procure liquor from manufacturers and sell it to consumers through its agency.

This move marks a significant shift in the state's approach to managing the liquor business and signals the Chief Minister’s intent to build a transparent, accountable, and corruption-free administrative system in Chhattisgarh.