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ED Freezes Congress Office in Chhattisgarh and Properties Tied to Ex-Minister Lakhma

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized the Congress party office in Sukma, Chhattisgarh, along with various properties associated with former excise minister and current MLA Kawasi Lakhma, and his son, Harish Lakhma.
This action is part of the ongoing investigation into a ₹2,161 crore liquor scam. An official announcement detailing the asset attachments is expected to be released soon.
ED officials report that the actions include Lakhma’s residence in Sukma and a bungalow on Dhamtari Road in Raipur, as well as properties owned by his son. These assets are alleged to have been acquired through proceeds from a purported excise syndicate in Chhattisgarh.
In response, Sushil Anand Shukla, the communications head for Chhattisgarh Congress, claimed that “central agencies are being weaponized on the explicit instructions of the Modi-led government.” He characterized the ED’s action against a district party office as politically motivated and driven by fear.
BJP state spokesperson Kedar Gupta dismissed these allegations, pointing out alleged corruption under the Bhupesh Baghel administration. He noted that assets worth ₹6 crore linked to Lakhma and his son have been confiscated. Gupta also mentioned the ongoing investigations involving individuals either in jail or out on bail, sarcastically questioning if the ED would investigate BJP-owned properties such as the ₹150 crore Kushabhau Thakre office.
Kawasi Lakhma has been in judicial custody since January 16, 2025. The ED labels him a key figure in the liquor scam, alleging he influenced policy decisions, particularly the implementation of FL-10 licenses that allegedly supported the syndicate’s operations.
ED counsel Saurabh Pandey informed the court that Lakhma allegedly received ₹2 crore in monthly kickbacks over a three-year period, amounting to ₹72 crore in total. These illicit funds were reportedly used to support Harish Lakhma’s residence and the Sukma Congress office.
The agency claims that the liquor racket diverted over ₹2,100 crore from the state treasury. Initial investigations have identified a network of senior bureaucrats and business interests, including IAS officer Anil Tuteja, excise department MD A.P. Tripathi, and liquor contractor Anwar Dhebar.
This latest move follows ED raids conducted in December 2024 at various locations related to the accused, including homes in Raipur and Sukma, as well as properties connected to aide Sushil Ojha and Sukma municipality chairperson Raju Sahu.
The ED has launched a money laundering case based on an FIR from the Anti-Corruption Bureau. Investigators allege that the syndicate operated with impunity under the previous state government, leading to substantial financial losses due to systematic revenue diversion.
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MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel

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New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.

According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.

The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.

The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.

Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.

In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.

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8 Patients Dead In Jaipur Hospital Fire

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Jaipur: Eight patients died after a fire broke out at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night.

Officials said the blaze started in the storage area of the Neuro ICU, possibly due to a short circuit. There were 11 patients in the ICU at the time. Smoke quickly spread, causing panic among patients and staff.

Hospital workers and attendants tried to rescue patients, even moving them out on their beds. Firefighters controlled the blaze in about two hours.

Families of the victims alleged that hospital staff ignored early warnings about smoke and fled during the fire.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and other ministers visited the hospital to review the situation and assured a detailed probe into the incident.

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75-Year-Old Man Marries 35-Year-Old, Dies Before Honeymoon

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Uttar Pradesh: A 75-year-old man who remarried in search of companionship died barely hours after his wedding, sparking shock and speculation in his village.

The deceased, identified as Sangruram, a resident of Kuchhmuchh village in Jaunpur district, had been living alone after losing his first wife a year ago. With no children, he supported himself through farming. Despite advice from relatives against remarriage, Sangruram wed 35-year-old Manbhavati, a resident of Jalalpur area, on Monday, September 29.

The marriage was first registered in court, followed by traditional rituals at a local temple. According to Manbhavati, the couple spent most of the wedding night conversing, as Sangruram assured her that she would take responsibility for the household while he would “take care of the children.”

However, by the next morning, his health deteriorated suddenly. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The unexpected death has triggered varied reactions in the village. While some residents believe it to be a natural occurrence given his age, others have expressed suspicion about the circumstances.

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Relatives, including nephews residing in Delhi, have halted funeral rites until their arrival. They have also raised questions about whether a police inquiry or post-mortem examination will be conducted before the cremation.

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding further investigation.

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