New Delhi: The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to former Excise Minister and current MLA Kavasi Lakhma in the high-profile Chhattisgarh liquor scam case. The bail was approved in cases filed by both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Economic Offences Wing (EOW). However, the final bail bond will be decided by the lower court.
The Supreme Court ordered that Kavasi Lakhma must not stay in Chhattisgarh during the interim bail period. The court stated, “Lakhma shall not enter Chhattisgarh unless required for court appearances and may enter the state only a day before the hearing.”
According to the order, Lakhma will not be exempted from personal court appearances except for health reasons. He is also prohibited from traveling abroad and must surrender his passport to the Special Judge’s court. Additionally, he must provide his phone number to the ED officials and cannot change it without informing the trial court.
The Supreme Court noted that the investigation is expected to take considerable time and rushed prosecution could adversely affect the trial. Therefore, it emphasized the need to allow the investigation to proceed without undue restrictions.
Lakhma’s lawyer, Mukul Rohatgi, highlighted that Lakhma is a tribal leader and a six-time MLA. He mentioned that while there are bribery allegations, no concrete evidence has been found. Considering Lakhma’s age of 67 years, the lawyer argued that bail is justified.
The state government and the ED opposed the bail plea. The state government stated that the investigation is ongoing and has revealed alleged collusion involving ministers, political officials, and senior officers. The scam reportedly caused significant losses to the government treasury.
Kavasi Lakhma was arrested by the ED on January 15, 2025, and by the EOW on April 2, 2025. Several charge sheets have been filed, and the investigation is complete. The case includes 1,193 witnesses and 52 accused individuals, with 22 arrests made so far. Bail has already been granted to 19 accused persons.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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