ED Arrests Saumya Chaurasia in Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam

Chhattisgarh: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday arrested Saumya Chaurasia, a former deputy secretary to ex–Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, deepening a high-profile investigation into an alleged liquor scam that investigators say involved financial irregularities exceeding ₹3,200 crore.

The arrest followed nearly seven hours of questioning at the ED’s Raipur office, where officials examined Chaurasia’s alleged role in facilitating transactions linked to liquor procurement and excise operations during the previous Congress-led government.

An Arrest That Revives a Long-Running Probe

ED officials said Chaurasia was summoned as part of a widening inquiry into what they describe as systemic manipulation of the state’s liquor policy. By the end of the interrogation, investigators concluded that custodial questioning was necessary to examine her role in decision-making processes and fund movements.

Chaurasia had earlier been granted bail in a separate coal levy scam case, highlighting the overlapping nature of corruption investigations now converging around Chhattisgarh’s former administration.

Officials familiar with the probe said the agency is attempting to piece together administrative approvals, policy changes and financial flows that allegedly enabled the diversion of large sums over several years.

Inside the Alleged Liquor Network

According to the ED, the liquor scam involved inflated procurement costs, illegal commissions and off-the-books payments routed through a network of intermediaries. Investigators estimate the proceeds of crime at around ₹3,200 crore, placing the case among the largest financial probes in the state’s history.

The agency believes the operation relied on close coordination between certain bureaucrats, private liquor suppliers and politically connected individuals. Funds were allegedly layered through multiple channels to obscure their origin — a pattern commonly seen in large-scale financial frauds that later require forensic examination similar to that conducted under auditing services in india to reconstruct transaction trails.

What Investigators Say They Have Uncovered

Sources close to the investigation said Chaurasia was questioned extensively about policy implementation, the role of intermediaries in liquor distribution, and the movement of funds linked to excise operations.

The ED maintains that the alleged misconduct was not isolated but embedded within administrative systems over an extended period. Investigators are analysing bank records, digital evidence and statements from other accused to map the operational structure of the alleged network.

Officials argue that custodial interrogation is necessary to prevent evidence tampering and to confront suspects with material collected from parallel probes.

Chaurasia is expected to be produced before a special court in Raipur on Wednesday, where the ED is likely to seek further remand to continue questioning.

Political Fallout and the Road Ahead

The arrest has intensified political tensions in the state. Opposition leaders have alleged misuse of central agencies, while the ED insists the investigation is driven solely by documentary evidence and financial trails.

With multiple accused already under scrutiny and further arrests not ruled out, the case is expected to remain a flashpoint in Chhattisgarh’s political discourse as investigators continue to trace the alleged flow of illicit funds.