The Enforcement Directorate has significantly intensified its ongoing probe into Chhattisgarh's widely discussed alleged liquor, coal, and custom milling scams. On Thursday, separate operational teams of the central agency launched synchronized search operations across three major locations in the state, namely Raipur, Durg, and Dhamtari. The primary target of the crackdown was senior Congress leader and former state party treasurer Ramgopal Agarwal. Investigators conducted an extensive search lasting approximately 9 hours at his residence located in Anupam Nagar, Raipur. Simultaneously, another team spent nearly 9 hours examining his ancestral property in Dhamtari before gathering crucial financial documents and returning to the capital city.
Simultaneous Action at Dhamtari Residence with Security Escort
In Dhamtari's Sundarganj Ward, the investigative team arrived at Ramgopal Agarwal's house at approximately 7 AM on Thursday morning. The raiding unit comprised 4 Enforcement Directorate officials traveling in 2 Innova vehicles, escorted by 4 armed security personnel to maintain safety during the procedure. The officials thoroughly inspected various sections of the house and checked internal records. Notably, this action comes just about 8 days after the central probe agency produced Ramgopal Agarwal before a special court in Raipur. After concluding the hours long search and seizing key physical paperwork, the team departed for Raipur in the evening.
Late-Night Searches on Real Estate Developers in Durg
Simultaneously in Durg, a larger team of over 10 officers arrived at around 6 AM in 2 vehicles to target the premises of two prominent real estate developers, Sajal Jain and Vishwas Gupta. Both businessmen are widely known to be close associates of former Congress state treasurer Ramgopal Agarwal. Unconfirmed reports suggest that money belonging to several high-ranking bureaucrats and government officials may have been funneled into their real estate projects, although there has been no official confirmation regarding these claims. Investigative personnel continued analyzing financial records, ledger books, and digital electronic evidence at their offices and homes late into the night.
Congress Workers Launch Aggressive Protests Outside Raid Site
As news of the central agency raid on Ramgopal Agarwal's premises spread across the region, intense resentment surfaced among local Congress members and party cadres. Within a short time, key political leaders including Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi, Congress District President Tarini Chandrakar, MLA Omkar Sahu, and former Mayor Vijay Dewangan gathered outside the Dhamtari residence alongside a massive crowd of supporters. The protesters staged a loud demonstration and shouted slogans, alleging that the raid was driven purely by political malice. Tensions escalated as agitated party workers repeatedly attempted to force their way past security inside the premises. To prevent any breach of peace, City Superintendent of Police Abhishek Chaturvedi remained stationed at the scene with a contingent of police forces to maintain order throughout the protest.
