SC Grants Interim Bail to Ex-Chhattisgarh Minister Kawasi Lakhma in Liquor Scam

• The Supreme Court granted interim bail to former Chhattisgarh excise minister Kawasi Lakhma in two liquor scam cases filed by the ED and state police.
• Lakhma was arrested by the ED on January 15, 2025, on money laundering charges and by the ACB/EOW on April 2, 2025, in a separate case.
• The bail conditions include living outside Chhattisgarh, submitting his passport, not influencing witnesses, and sharing his mobile number and whereabouts with probe agencies.
• The court did not allow Lakhma, an MLA, to participate in assembly proceedings while on bail.
• The alleged liquor scam, orchestrated between 2019-2022, reportedly caused massive losses to the state exchequer and involved a syndicate.

Why It Matters: Former Chhattisgarh minister Kawasi Lakhma gets interim bail in liquor scam cases with strict conditions.