The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has revealed a huge corruption case in Chhattisgarh's Excise Department from 2019 to 2023 involving ₹2,883 crore. The agency named 59 new accused, bringing the total to 81. The scam involved illegal liquor sales, fake commissions, and bribery. Officials, including retired IAS officer Anil Tuteja and Excise Commissioner Niranjan Das, were key players. Political figures like former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma and Chaitanya Baghel, son of the then Chief Minister, are also accused. The syndicate reportedly raised government liquor prices to fund bribes and sold unaccounted country liquor using fake holograms. Illegal commissions were earned through four channels, including new licensing categories exploiting foreign liquor firms. Arun Pati Tripathi, Managing Director of Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation, helped coordinate the illegal sales. The ED arrested nine people so far. Properties worth ₹382.32 crore linked to accused bureaucrats, politicians, and private firms have been seized. Notable seized assets include Hotel Vennington Court in Raipur and properties tied to the Dhebar and Baghel families. Assets worth ₹96.55 crore attached from private distilleries involved in the scam. Between April 2019 and June 2022, over 60 lakh cases of off-the-books liquor were supplied to the syndicate. The case is being investigated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act based on an anti-corruption FIR from Raipur.