Chhattisgarh 'liquor scam': ED arrests Bhupesh Baghel’s ex-OSD Saumya Chaurasia in Rs 3,200 crore case

RAIPUR: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Saumya Chaurasia, former deputy secretary to ex-chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, on Tuesday in connection with the alleged Chhattisgarh liquor scam.

Speaking to TOI, Faizal Rizwi, Saumya's counsel, said "she was routinely summoned by ED for questioning and after initial quizzing, she was arrested around 5.30 pm. She will be produced at PMLA court on Wednesday at around 12 pm."

The action followed an FIR lodged with the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), alleging irregularities amounting to more than Rs 3,000 crore during the previous Baghel govt's tenure. According to the ED's findings, the alleged syndicate included senior IAS officer Anil Tuteja, former Excise Department managing director AP Tripathi and businessman Anwar Dhebar. The agency alleged that the group manipulated the excise system to generate illegal proceeds.

Saumya was earlier arrested in Dec 2022 in the high-profile Rs 570 crore coal-levy scam and was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court in May this year along with six other alleged accused, including two suspended IAS officers Ranu Sahu and Sameer Vishnoi. They were released from Raipur jail.

The apex court had directed that all released individuals must leave Chhattisgarh immediately and must not reside in the state until further orders, citing concerns about potential witness tampering. They were required to submit their passports to the special court, inform local police of their new address, cooperate fully with investigation agencies and appear before the court when required. Saumya was residing in Bengaluru throughout.