Raipur | The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached movable and immovable properties worth ₹38.21 crore belonging to senior IAS officer Niranjan Das (then Excise Commissioner) and 30 other excise officials, in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged Chhattisgarh liquor scam.
The action has been taken under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, as investigators allege that an organized network of officials, businessmen and political intermediaries systematically manipulated the state’s liquor system — causing an estimated loss of over ₹2,800 crore to the state treasury (based on assessed disclosures and calculations).
What the ED has attached
According to officials, the attachment includes a mix of high-value real estate and financial investments:
- Immovable assets — ₹21.64 crore
A total of 78 properties, including luxury bungalows, premium residential flats, commercial shops, upscale complexes and large tracts of agricultural land. - Movable assets — ₹16.56 crore
About 197 items, consisting of high-value fixed deposits, balances lying in multiple bank accounts, life-insurance policies, as well as diversified portfolios of equity shares and mutual funds.
Investigators say these assets are suspected to be proceeds of crime generated through illegal commissions, bribery, and manipulation of the liquor procurement and distribution structure.
A “parallel excise system” allegedly run by insiders
The ED probe suggests that a criminal syndicate — allegedly involving senior bureaucrats and politically connected individuals — had virtually taken control of significant parts of Chhattisgarh’s excise operations.
Officials claim that Niranjan Das, along with Arun Pati Tripathi (then Chief Executive Officer, CSMCL), allegedly operated a parallel excise mechanism, bypassing state rules and institutional checks to generate massive illegal revenues.
This system allegedly allowed the production and sale of illicit liquor through:
- fake holograms
- non-standard, illegal bottles
- direct supply from distilleries to retail shops
- bypassing state warehouses and regulatory oversight
The scheme reportedly flourished with the active collusion of excise officers, who ensured smooth movement, storage, and retail placement of the illegal stock.
Monthly commissions and systematic pay-offs
According to the ED, investigations revealed a structured commission network. Excise officials were allegedly paid a fixed percentage “cut” every month for allowing the sale of “Part-B” liquor — stock not recorded in official ledgers.
Proceeds reportedly escalated rapidly:
- Niranjan Das is accused of acquiring proceeds of crime exceeding ₹18 crore, and allegedly received up to ₹50 lakh per month as bribes for facilitating the racket.
- In total, 31 excise officers are suspected to have amassed about ₹89.56 crore in illegal gains.
The money was allegedly layered through shell transactions, investments and front accounts to disguise its origin.
Case built on earlier ACB–EOW findings
The ED’s investigation stems from an FIR registered by the ACB–EOW, Raipur, under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Initial police findings pointed to a large-scale fraud causing substantial losses to the state exchequer while providing disproportionate financial benefits to the accused. The ED subsequently stepped in to trace the laundering trail and attach assets believed to be linked with the illegal proceeds.
Broader implications
Officials say the case exposes deep institutional collusion among officers entrusted with safeguarding revenue.
Beyond financial loss, investigators argue that the scam undermined regulatory systems, distorted the legal liquor market, and compromised public trust.
With attachments completed, the ED has indicated that further action — including prosecution complaints and additional attachments, if required — may follow as the probe continues.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
