ED claims: Lakhma used to get 2 crores every month

Congress Bhawan built in Sukma with scam money

Raipur (Team Newsbuddy): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Konta MLA and former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma in connection with the excise scam of more than Rs 2000 crore in Chhattisgarh. When Lakhma was called for questioning on Wednesday, the ED took him into custody and produced him in the Special Court. The court has accepted the ED’s demand for remand till January 21.

According to the ED’s advocate, Kawasi Lakhma was given Rs 2 crore every month in the scam. This amount was delivered through departmental employees and officials.

The ED called Kawasi Lakhma for questioning on December 28, January 3 and January 15 as part of the investigation into the scam. The ED’s lawyer says that during the questioning, Lakhma did not cooperate in the investigation and tried to mislead the officials.

Accused Arvind Singh and AP Tripathi, who are in jail in this case, revealed in their statement to the ED that Kawasi Lakhma was given Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore every month. This amount was delivered through Jayant Dewangan, Kanhaiya Lal Kurre and Jagannath Sahu. It is alleged that Lakhma got Rs 72 crore in return for protecting this scam for 36 months.

ED investigation has revealed that the money received from this scam was used in the construction of Congress Bhawan in Sukma. During the investigation, digital evidence was also recovered from the house of Lakhma and his son Harish. On decoding these evidences, details of money transactions came to light.

Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel called Kawasi Lakhma’s arrest politically motivated. Baghel said that Lakhma had raised the issue of rigging in road construction in Bastar, due to which he was targeted. He alleged that journalist Mukesh Chandrakar was murdered for exposing corruption in road construction, and Lakhma also faced ED action following that.