Overview

• The Enforcement Directorate raided 11 premises in Bhopal, Indore, Mandsaur, and other districts under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
• Investigators allege liquor contractors inflated treasury challans to unlawfully acquire liquor and caused a loss of approximately Rs. 49.42 crore to the Madhya Pradesh government.
• The modus operandi reportedly involved leaving blank spaces in challans for 'Rs. in words,' later filling them with inflated amounts to secure liquor NOCs.
• The case stems from irregularities in 194 challans between 2015 and 2018, highlighting persistent oversight issues in the state excise department.
• This operation is part of broader ED efforts to address excise-related corruption, following similar probes in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.