ED arrests ex-CMO deputy secretary Soumya Chaurasia in Chhattisgarh liquor scam

Soumya Chaurasia was arrested late on Tuesday evening and produced before a special court on Wednesday

Published on: Dec 17, 2025, 18:54:09 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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RAIPUR: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday arrested Soumya Chaurasia, who served as deputy secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) during Bhupesh Baghel’s tenure as CM, in conection with the multi-crore liquor scam probe.

The ED has arrested Soumya Chaurasia, a suspended state administrative service officer (Screengrab/PTI Videos)

Chaurasia was arrested late on Tuesday evening and produced before a special court on Wednesday, said ED lawyer Saurabh Kumar Pande.

Chaurasia, a suspended state administrative service officer, is also an accused in the alleged coal levy scam and was arrested in the case in 2022. She was released from jail on bail in May this year on the orders of the Supreme Court.

ED arrested Congress MLA and former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma on January 15 this year. The former chief minister’s son, Chaitanya Baghel, was arrested on July 18 as part of ED’s money-laundering probe and continues to remain in custody.

According to ED,

Chaitanya Baghel was arrested by the ED on 18.07.2025 and is presently in judicial custody.

According to the agency, the alleged liquor scam was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 during the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government, causing a loss of over ₹2,500 crore to the state exchequer and generating illegal gains for members of the liquor syndicate.

According to an ED statement on Nov 13, Chaitanya Baghel was positioned at the apex of the alleged liquor syndicate and he was responsible for maintaining the accounts of all illicit funds allegedly collected by the syndicate.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

Bhupesh Baghel

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