Chhattisgarh: ED raids Congress MLA Kawasi Lakhma, son in money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched on December 28, 2024, targeting six-time Congress MLA Kawasi Lakhma, his son Harish Lakhma, and Congress leader Raju Sahu in Chhattisgarh.

Key Points of the Raid:

1. Locations Targeted:

• Kawasi Lakhma’s residence in Raipur.
• Harish Lakhma’s premises in Sukma; he serves as the chairperson of the Sukma district panchayat.
• Raju Sahu’s residence; is the president of Sukma municipality.

2. Reason for the Raids:

• The ED is investigating an alleged liquor scam in Chhattisgarh, with estimated proceeds of crime around ₹2,161 crore.
• Kawasi Lakhma, a former excise minister, is among the 70 individuals named in the FIR related to this scam.

3. Conduct of the Raids:

• ED teams executed searches at the specified locations.
• Security forces were deployed outside the residences during the operations.
• The ED has not yet disclosed whether incriminating evidence was found, as examining seized documents is ongoing.

4. Background Information:

• Kawasi Lakhma is a prominent tribal leader in Bastar and has been elected six times from the Konta Assembly seat in the Sukma district.
• He served as the excise minister in the Bhupesh Baghel cabinet.
• In the recent Lok Sabha elections, he contested from the Bastar constituency but was defeated by BJP candidate Mahesh Kashyap.