Monday, February 17, 2025

The Arrest of Kawasi Lakhma: How Congress Enabled a Massive Corruption Nexus

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently arrested Kawasi Lakhma, a six-time MLA and former Excise Minister of Chhattisgarh, for his alleged involvement in a ₹2,161 crore liquor scam. This development reignites concerns about systemic corruption in Congress’ governance. Investigators accuse Lakhma of enabling an elaborate criminal nexus during his tenure in the Congress-led administration from 2019 to 2022, which diverted funds from public welfare to private pockets.

This scandal directly implicates Lakhma and further tarnishes the Congress party’s track record in Chhattisgarh. Repeated allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption have steadily eroded public trust in the party.

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The Liquor Scam: Anatomy of a Fraud

The ED’s investigation uncovered a large-scale operation orchestrated by a syndicate of politicians, bureaucrats, and excise department officials. At the heart of this scheme was the deliberate manipulation of the state’s liquor policy to favor certain manufacturers and distributors who paid hefty commissions.

Key elements of the scam include:

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  1. Illegal Commissions: The syndicate allegedly collected substantial commissions from liquor suppliers. Only those manufacturers willing to pay these bribes were granted permissions to operate.
  2. Illicit Liquor Sales: The network facilitated the production and sale of unaccounted illicit liquor through government-run shops, siphoning off funds that should have contributed to the state exchequer.
  3. Revenue Diversion: Between 2019 and 2022, an estimated ₹2,161 crore was siphoned off through these operations.

Anwar Dhebar, brother of Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar (a Congress leader), has been identified as the alleged mastermind of the syndicate. According to the ED, the group leveraged political connections and exploited institutional weaknesses to maintain their illegal activities.

Kawasi Lakhma: An Innocent or a Complicit Leader?

As the Excise Minister during this period, Lakhma held authority over the very systems exploited in the scam. The ED arrested him after questioning him for several days, indicating his role extended beyond mere oversight. However, Lakhma denies any wrongdoing.

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“Not even a single penny has come to me, but they still arrested me. The BJP is falsely implicating a poor man like me,” he told reporters on his way to court. Lakhma also insisted he had fully cooperated with investigators and promised to continue advocating for Bastar’s issues.

His claims of innocence fail to counter the mounting evidence. The ED has exposed discrepancies in liquor contracts and revenue records, which reveal gross mismanagement—or deliberate complicity—during his tenure.

Congress Under Fire: A Pattern of Corruption

The liquor scam is not an isolated incident but part of a larger pattern of governance failures and corruption allegations that have plagued the Congress party in Chhattisgarh. Critics argue that systemic corruption has been institutionalized under Congress leadership, where public office is often leveraged for private enrichment.

In this case, Congress has predictably accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of political vendetta, alleging that the ED’s investigation is an attempt to tarnish the opposition ahead of state elections. However, these claims do little to counter the detailed findings of the investigation, which reveal extensive collusion among government officials and politicians.

Impact on Chhattisgarh: A Betrayal of Public Trust

The consequences of this scam are particularly devastating for regions like Bastar, represented by Lakhma. Bastar is among the most underdeveloped areas in Chhattisgarh, grappling with poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and insurgency-related challenges.

Funds that should have been allocated for development projects, healthcare, and education were instead funneled into private hands. The diversion of ₹2,161 crore represents not just financial loss but also a betrayal of the public trust.

BJP’s Stance and the Road Ahead

The BJP has seized on the scandal to criticize Congress, positioning itself as the party committed to rooting out corruption. The Congress alleged political motives behind the ED’s actions. The BJP argues that the investigation is a legitimate effort to hold corrupt officials accountable.

Provisional attachments worth ₹124 crore have already been made in connection with the case, signaling that the ED is far from finished in its pursuit of justice.

Wake Up Call? Kawasi Lakhma

The ₹2,161 crore liquor scam during the tenure of Kawasi Lakhma represents more than just a financial scandal—it exposes a complete betrayal of the principles of good governance. This investigation requires both the public and policymakers to actively demand greater accountability from their leaders.

Congress must treat this case as a wake-up call. The party needs to address its internal issues and rebuild its credibility to avoid further alienating a populace that grows increasingly frustrated with corruption. The future of Kawasi Lakhma now lies in the judicial system’s hands—a fitting conclusion for a politician who failed to honor the trust placed in him by his constituents.

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