Congress MLA and former Chhattisgarh excise minister Kawasi Lakhma was released from Raipur Central Jail a day after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in cases linked to the alleged liquor ‘scam’. Arrested by the ED and ACB/EOW, Lakhma said he has full faith in the judiciary and will continue to fight for tribal and farmers’ rights.
A day after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail, Congress MLA and former Chhattisgarh excise minister Kawasi Lakhma was released from Raipur Central Jail on Wednesday in connection with cases linked to the alleged liquor scam.
Lakhma had been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 15, 2025, as part of a money laundering investigation related to the alleged scam. Since then, he had been in judicial custody. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in two separate cases — one registered by the ED and the other by the Chhattisgarh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Economic Offences Wing (EOW).
Soon after his release, a large number of Congress leaders and party supporters gathered outside the jail premises to welcome him. Supporters raised slogans in his favour, showing solidarity with the senior tribal leader. After stepping out of the jail, Lakhma went on to garland a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, symbolising his continued faith in constitutional values.
Speaking to reporters after his release, Lakhma said that he had full faith in the judiciary. He stated that he would continue his struggle for the rights of tribals, farmers and the poor. He further said that he remains committed to protecting ‘jal, jungle, zameen’ (water, forest, land) of Chhattisgarh, which he described as the core issues affecting tribal communities in the state.
Earlier, the ACB/EOW had also arrested Lakhma on September 24 last year in connection with its own corruption case related to the alleged liquor scam. At that time, he was already lodged in jail under judicial custody following his arrest by the ED in the money laundering case.
According to the Enforcement Directorate, the alleged liquor scam took place between 2019 and 2022, during the tenure of the Congress government in Chhattisgarh led by then Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Lakhma was serving as the excise minister in the Baghel cabinet during this period.
The ED has alleged that the scam caused a huge loss to the state exchequer while illegally benefitting a liquor syndicate operating in the state. The agency has claimed that the proceeds of crime generated from the alleged scam could be more than Rs 3,500 crore, a figure that was earlier also cited by the state agency ACB/EOW during the investigation.
The cases against Lakhma remain under investigation, and the interim bail granted by the Supreme Court will be subject to further proceedings in the matter.
Case Title:
Kawasi Lakhma vs State of Chhattisgarh, SLP (Crl) No. 16980/2025
Click Here to Read More Reports On Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam Case
