SC Raps ED for ‘Pattern’ of Allegations Without Proof in Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam Case

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 5th May: The Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on the Enforcement Directorate (ED), observing that the central agency has developed a “pattern” of making serious allegations in money laundering cases without placing substantive evidence on record.

The court made the remarks while hearing a bail plea of an accused in a money laundering case linked to alleged corruption in liquor sales under the previous Congress-led Bhupesh Baghel government in Chhattisgarh between 2019 and 2022.

“We have seen several ED cases. It has become a pattern now. ED is levelling allegations without evidence,” observed Justice AS Oka, who was hearing the matter along with Justice Ujjal Bhuyan.

The bench criticised the ED’s claim that the accused had amassed ₹40 crore through proceeds of crime, pointing out the agency’s failure to establish a clear link between the accused and the funds. “You cannot say where this money came from. You cannot show any connection between this man and any company,” Justice Oka remarked.

The ED has alleged a liquor scam amounting to over ₹2,000 crore involving a nexus of senior government officials, private players, and political executives during the Baghel regime. According to the agency, bribes were allegedly taken from distillers for fixed market shares, and country liquor was sold off the books. The case stems from an earlier probe by the Income Tax department.

Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has consistently denied the allegations, branding them a politically motivated witch-hunt orchestrated by the BJP.

In a related hearing last week, the top court had also criticised the Chhattisgarh government for prolonged incarceration of the accused, stating, “Investigation will go on its own speed. It will go on till eternity. Three chargesheets have been filed. You are virtually penalising the person by keeping him in custody. You have made the process a punishment. This is not some case of terrorist or triple murder.”