Raipur. For the second day today, the ED had called Mayor Ejaz Dhebar to the office from 2 pm for questioning in the Excise scam case. ED is interrogating Ejaz Dhebar for the last 7 hours. It is being speculated that the ED may take Ejaz Dhebar into custody today, while some sources are expressing apprehension that the ED may release the Mayor after questioning him like yesterday. On the other hand, Ejaz Dhebar took a press conference before entering the ED office and said that if ED proved his involvement in the scam, Ejaz Dhebar would leave politics.
Anwar Dhebar in ED custody
Big news related to ED investigation is coming out. According to the information received, the central agency has issued summons to many hoteliers of Raipur, including senior officials of the Excise Department and liquor traders for questioning in the liquor scam case. Let us inform that after the liquor scam in Delhi, a liquor scam has also come to the fore in Chhattisgarh. The scam was allegedly being operated with the help of top politicians and bureaucrats from Chhattisgarh. The Enforcement Directorate has busted this Rs 2000 crore liquor scam in the Congress-ruled state. The ED had arrested the main accused in this case Anwar Dhebar on Saturday itself, who has been sent to ED custody for four days.
The ED had earlier conducted searches at several places in the month of March and recorded statements of several people involved in the alleged scam. The agency claims that it has collected evidence of “huge corruption and money laundering of Rs 2000 crore between 2019 – 2022”. The ED issued a statement saying, ‘PMLA investigation revealed that an organized criminal syndicate led by Anwar Dhebar was operating in the state of Chhattisgarh. Apart from one person, Anwar Dhebar had the blessings of top politicians and senior bureaucrats of the state.
ED has once again summoned Mayor Ejaz Dhebar for questioning. In this episode, the mayor held a press conference before the ED inquiry. Against ED action, the mayor said that ED officials are taking action under pressure. Ejaz Dhebar said that efforts are being made to harass the Congress workers. My brother has been accused of a scam of more than 2 thousand crores, but how will it be proved. In the rule of BJP, there was a stronghold of corruption. Why is no action taken against them?
Dhebar said that being the mayor of Raipur Municipal Corporation, he has written a letter to the ED officials. I am made to sit for 10-10 hours in the name of questioning. The work of our corporation is getting affected. We are fully cooperating with the inquiry, but it is wrong to do such an act out of political malice. Dhebar said that my brother Anwar is talking about getting property worth 2,200 crores. Can’t prove it in court. Just being bothered. After joining BJP all the matters get settled. On the other hand, Ejaz Dhebar said that people are being harassed from house to house in the Karnataka elections. We will continue to oppose this work. Please inform that Ejaz Dhebar’s brother has been arrested from a private hotel on Saturday, who is on remand for 4 days.
Tag: interrogation
-
Interrogation of Ejaz Dhebar continues in ED office from 2 pm
-
Madal needed for custodial interrogation: Lokayukta police
BENGALURU: The Lokayukta police on Friday argued before the high court that Channagiri BJP MLA and former chairman of the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd (KSDL) K Madal Virupakshappa is required for custodial interrogation to obtain more information as he is not cooperating with the investigation and giving evasive answers.
The counsel for the Lokayukta police told the court that Virupakshappa, who is on interim anticipatory bail, has not even shared his phone number with the investigating officer.
The submission was made before Justice K Natarajan, who is hearing the anticipatory bail petition by Virupakshappa in a graft case registered by the Lokayukta police on March 2, 2023, against him and his son MV Prashanth Kumar, chief accountant of BWSSB.
Submitting interrogation details in a sealed cover along with the statement of objections to the bail plea, the counsel argued that they have provided the statement of the managing director of KSDL and his Whatsapp conversation with Prashanth Kumar. Also, Virupakshappa’s daughter-in-law stated that the bedroom where Rs 6.10 crore was seized belonged to him.
Virupakshappa’s counsel argued that there are no allegations against his client in the FIR on the demand and acceptance of bribe and it was registered only on the presumption that he was taking 30 per cent of the contract amount as bribe from the bidders to supply chemicals to KSDL. Prima facie, there is no material to attract the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Virupakshappa resigned as KSDL chairman after the FIR was registered and his son was arrested. He was also not a party to the committee that clears the tenders, he argued.
He said that though the accused is cooperating with the investigation by appearing every day, the Lokayukta police have filed objections saying there are chances of him threatening witnesses, influencing potential witnesses and tampering with evidence as he is an MLA.