ED searches Congress leader Ram Gopal Agrawal’s home in liquor case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday searched the Dhamtari residence of Congress leader Ram Gopal Agrawal, days after his arrest in a money-laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in Chhattisgarh's liquor trade. The search was conducted in the Audyogik Ward area of Dhamtari, prompting a protest by Congress leaders and workers, including MLA Omkar Sahu, who gathered outside and raised slogans against the central government and the probe agency. The ED also conducted searches at a few other locations in Raipur.

Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee president Deepak Baij alleged that central probe agencies were being used to intimidate opposition leaders, questioning the need for a search when Agrawal was already in ED custody. Agrawal was arrested by the state's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) last month in a coal levy case and was also being questioned in the liquor scam. The ED arrested him on August 11 while he was in judicial custody in the EOW case.

The ED alleges that the liquor scam, which took place between 2019 and 2022 under the previous Congress government led by Bhupesh Baghel, involved a syndicate of bureaucrats and political figures that caused an estimated loss of Rs 2,883 crore to the state exchequer. The ED has filed six chargesheets and named 81 accused, including former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma and Baghel's son Chaitanya Baghel. The EOW has claimed the proceeds of crime could exceed Rs 3,500 crore.