ED Summons 59 Excise Officials in ₹3,200 Crore Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam; Arrests Likely

April 2, 2026 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned 59 officials of the Chhattisgarh Excise Department in connection with the alleged liquor scam worth over ₹3,200 crore during the previous Congress government. All the officials are currently under suspension, and many are reportedly absconding. Among those named is the husband of a woman IAS officer.

In the first phase, 18 officials appeared before the special court today, while the remaining are expected to be summoned in subsequent hearings.

Earlier, on February 19, ahead of the state budget session, the government granted sanction to prosecute 30 excise officials in the case. This approval cleared the way for the ED to initiate further legal proceedings.

Sources indicate that arrests of several officials could take place soon. All accused officers remain suspended. It is also reported that files related to action against these officials were pending in the state secretariat for nearly a month, amid speculation that influential individuals were attempting to shield some of the accused.

According to the ED’s investigation and chargesheet, the role of these officials is considered suspicious. During the probe, several officers allegedly admitted to receiving fixed monthly payments from a liquor syndicate.

The payments were reportedly made in exchange for facilitating illegal liquor sales and ignoring overpricing at retail outlets. The network is believed to have operated from the district level up to the state headquarters.

So far, the ED had named 33 excise officials as accused. Action against an additional 29 officials is now expected to intensify. Defence counsel Faizal Rizvi stated that the total number of accused in the case has now risen to 82. Out of these, 59 individuals were not arrested during the investigation phase and have filed applications under Section 88 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Of them, 30 are excise officials and staff members.