The Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has intensified its investigation into the massive ₹175-crore rice milling scam, filing a supplementary charge sheet against businessman Dipen Chawda—an alleged close aide of influential Raipur-based businessman Anwar Dhebar. The development marks a significant escalation in one of the state’s most high-profile corruption cases linked to irregularities in the procurement and milling of paddy during the 2021–22 kharif season.

According to the EOW’s statement issued on Tuesday, the supplementary charge sheet was filed before the Special Court under the Prevention of Corruption Act in Raipur. Investigators allege that Chawda played a crucial intermediary role, collecting nearly ₹20 crore from various public servants as part of a broader illegal recovery and kickback mechanism that has come under scrutiny since last year.

Chawda, arrested in November, is described as a key operational aide to Anwar Dhebar, who is himself facing charges over his alleged involvement in facilitating and managing illegal fund movements tied to the scam. With Chawda’s inclusion, the total number of arrests in the case has risen to five, reflecting the expanding scope of the investigation as authorities uncover additional layers of financial misconduct.

The Expanding Investigation

The rice milling scam first came to light after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated a money-laundering probe. This was based on findings from the Income-Tax Department, which had earlier raised alarms about possible collusion between office-bearers of the Chhattisgarh Rice Millers Association (CRMA) and senior officials of the Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Marketing Federation Ltd (CG-Markfed). According to the IT Department, these officials allegedly exploited a government incentive scheme by withholding payments and extracting illicit commissions from rice millers across the state.

The EOW, acting on ED’s report, registered an FIR last year and has since claimed to have detected illegal recovery amounting to approximately ₹140 crore—funds allegedly generated through extortion from rice millers who operated within the state-run procurement framework.

The Incentive Scheme at the Heart of the Scam

The controversy revolves around the special milling incentive scheme offered to rice millers for custom milling paddy procured by the government. Until the 2021–22 season, millers were paid ₹40 per quintal as an incentive. However, in two subsequent instalments, the state government increased this amount to ₹120 per quintal to support operational costs.

Investigators allege that a network of CG-Markfed officials, district marketing officers, and CRMA leaders conspired to illegally withhold incentive bills, compelling millers to pay ₹20 per quintal as a bribe to release their dues. This extortion system was reportedly widespread and systematic, accumulating hundreds of crores over the season.

The ED has further alleged that these funds were moved and laundered through various channels, forming a sophisticated money route orchestrated by senior bureaucrats and businessmen.

Previous Charge Sheets and High-Profile Accusations

This case has seen several high-profile names being drawn into the investigation. The first charge sheet, filed in February, named former CG-Markfed managing director Manoj Soni and CRMA treasurer Roshan Chandrakar, who is also a rice miller. Both were accused of facilitating the unlawful withholding of incentive payments and enabling the extortion racket.

A supplementary charge sheet filed in October targeted businessman Anwar Dhebar and retired IAS officer Anil Tuteja. Investigators claim that Tuteja, during his tenure, played a central role in orchestrating the illegal recovery system. The ED has accused him of being the mastermind behind the financial architecture of the scam, alleging that he maintained close ties with CRMA office-bearers and marketing officials who executed the collection operations on the ground.

Anwar Dhebar—brother of Congress leader and former Raipur mayor Aijaz Dhebar—is accused of acting as Tuteja’s primary financial operative. According to the ED’s findings, Dhebar allegedly managed the inflow of funds, coordinated distribution, and handled the utilisation of the illegal proceeds for influential players in the state’s administration during the 2018–23 Congress government.

Charges Against Chawda

The latest charge sheet casts Dipen Chawda as an integral player in this chain. The EOW asserts that Chawda collected nearly ₹20 crore directly from public servants, money that investigators believe was part of the broader illegal recovery. His arrest last month followed the discovery of financial links and communication records that allegedly connect him with major beneficiaries of the extortion scheme.

Investigators contend that Chawda was entrusted with collecting, transferring, and safeguarding funds on behalf of higher-level players, including Dhebar. His role, as stated in the charge sheet, went beyond that of a mere associate: he allegedly acted as a key executor in the extortion operation, ensuring that collected funds reached their intended recipients along the illegal financial network.

Political and Administrative Context

The ED has linked the timeline of the scam to the period when the state was governed by former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel of the Congress. It has been alleged that the extortion and illegal recovery grew more organised and widespread during this period. Although no direct political office-holder has been named as an accused in the charge sheets, the involvement of individuals closely linked to senior figures in the previous administration has added political sensitivity to the case.

Opposition parties in the state have repeatedly cited the ED’s findings to accuse the former government of systematic corruption, while the Congress has dismissed these allegations as politically motivated. The unfolding investigation, however, continues to draw attention due to the involvement of senior bureaucrats and prominent business figures.

The Road Ahead

With multiple charge sheets filed and several arrests made, the rice milling scam remains one of Chhattisgarh’s most complex corruption cases in recent years. The intertwined nature of administrative authority, industry associations, and private intermediaries has prompted investigators to trace money flows through numerous accounts and entities.

As the EOW continues to file supplementary charge sheets, more names could emerge. Financial audits, digital communication analyses, and interrogation findings are expected to play a central role in uncovering the full scale of the alleged extortion network.

The Special Court will now examine the evidence presented in the latest filing against Chawda. Meanwhile, both the EOW and the ED are expected to continue parallel investigations—one focused on corruption within government departments and the other on money laundering facilitated through the illegal proceeds.

The developments underscore the substantial challenges involved in dismantling entrenched corruption within large procurement and incentive systems. With allegations involving bureaucrats, political associates, businessmen, and trade bodies, the case is likely to remain in the spotlight as authorities work toward establishing accountability and recovering illicit funds.