Bilaspur, 27 February (HS): Former Excise Minister of Chhattisgarh Kawasi Lakhma is in jail in the liquor scam case. Lakhma has filed an anticipatory bail petition in the High Courts. This petition was heard in the bench of Justice Arvind Verma on Thursday. During the hearing, the advocate of the petitioner presented his side. On which the court has issued notice to ACB-EOW and sought a reply. At the same time, the next hearing has been fixed on 13 March 2025.

The anticipatory bail plea of ​​​​Kawasi Lakhma has already been rejected by the Special Court of EOW. Two weeks ago, the lawyer on behalf of Kawasi had accused him of being implicated and harassed in a false case, calling him innocent in his defense. Along with this, ED was informed that not even a single penny was recovered from his house during the raid and no objectionable documents were found, while on behalf of EOW, Kawasi Lakhma was accused of taking about two crore rupees including 50 lakh rupees commission every month in the liquor scam and demanded the rejection of the anticipatory bail petition. In the alleged liquor scam case, ED presented former minister Kawasi Lakhma in Raipur's Special Court on January 21. During this, after the remand ended, the court has sent Kawasi Lakhma to jail in judicial custody.

During this, presenting his argument in the court, the ED lawyer had said that Lakhma is not cooperating in the investigation, in such a situation he can be sent to jail. In the court, the ED lawyer accused Lakhma that his name is linked to this liquor scam. In such a situation, it is necessary for him to cooperate in the investigation. It is alleged that former minister and current MLA Kawasi Lakhma was an important part of the syndicate. The liquor syndicate used to get help from him. At the same time, ED also said that Kawasi Lakhma has an important role in changing the liquor policy. Due to which FL-10 license was started in Chhattisgarh. Not only this, ED told that Lakhma was fully aware of the scam happening in the Excise Department, but he did not consider it necessary to stop it. For this, he has been seen as an accused. Currently, Lakhma has knocked the door of the High Court through his advocate for his anticipatory bail petition.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar