TFP Bureau, Raipur; April 22, 2024: In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) detained retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Anil Tuteja in connection with the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam during the tenure of the previous Congress government in Chhattisgarh. Tuteja, a 2003-batch IAS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, was arrested on Sunday by the federal agency for his purported involvement in money laundering related to the scam.
Tuteja, who retired from service last year, served as joint secretary in the industry and commerce department of Chhattisgarh. He is believed to be the first from the elite All India Service to face arrest in connection with the liquor scam. The arrest came after the ED detained Tuteja from the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) office in Raipur, where he and his son Yash Tuteja were summoned to provide statements regarding the case.
Following interrogation, Tuteja was taken into custody under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Meanwhile, his son Yash Tuteja was allowed to depart after questioning. Anil Tuteja was presented before a local court on Sunday afternoon and remanded to judicial custody for a day, with further proceedings scheduled for Monday.
The ED’s action follows the Supreme Court’s recent decision to quash its earlier FIR, based on an Income Tax Department complaint, citing no scheduled offense. Subsequently, the agency initiated a fresh money-laundering case in connection with the alleged liquor scam.
The ED’s investigation uncovered purported irregularities in the collection of funds from liquor sales in Chhattisgarh, with allegations of widespread corruption and money laundering. The probe implicated several individuals and entities, including former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma and former chief secretary Vivek Dhand.
The agency’s scrutiny revealed an estimated “proceeds of crime” amounting to Rs 2,161 crore, underscoring the magnitude of the alleged financial malfeasance. Anwar Dhebar, Arvind Singh, and Arunpati Tripathi are among those previously arrested in connection with the case.
The ED has accused the syndicate, allegedly led by Anwar Dhebar, of siphoning off profits from liquor sales, with country liquor sales conducted off-the-books and proceeds pocketed by the syndicate rather than reaching the state exchequer.
The arrest of Anil Tuteja marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the alleged liquor scam, signaling intensified efforts by law enforcement agencies to root out financial malpractice and corruption.
