On Friday, the Chhattisgarh Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offences Wing (ACB/EOW) arrested Giriraj Hotel owner Nitesh Purohit and his son Yash in connection with a sprawling multi-crore liquor scam dating back to the Congress administration, officials said. The arrests came two days after the Supreme Court lifted its previous stay against coercive action, which had protected the duo since September 2024.
The case, which has already seen the apprehension of former Excise Commissioner Niranjan Das and a dozen others, involves allegations that the accused formed a criminal syndicate to collect, store, and distribute illicit funds derived from the illegal sale and commission of liquor, allegedly diverting substantial sums to government officials and private individuals. The father-son duo appeared before the agency following notices, but reportedly did not cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
According to officials, the Purohits were produced before a special ACB/EOW court in Raipur, which remanded them to agency custody until September 25. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also probing the money laundering aspects of the scam, reportedly amounting to over Rs 2,500 crore and orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 during Congress rule under then-Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
The ACB/EOW first registered an FIR in January 2024, naming 70 individuals and entities, including former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma and ex-chief secretary Vivek Dhand. To date, the agency has filed one chargesheet and four supplementary ones, leading to the arrests of multiple high-profile individuals, including Chaitanya Baghel, Anwar Dhebar, and former IAS officer Anil Tuteja.
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