Das was then the Commissioner of the State Excise Department and was to be produced in a local court on Friday. Das allegedly received undue benefits worth crores of rupees in return for the sale of unaccounted liquor in state-run liquor shops, transfer of officers, manipulation of tender process, cooperation in bringing in a flawed liquor policy and other ways to benefit the syndicate. Das was a Chhattisgarh state cadre officer who was later promoted to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). He is the second former IAS officer to be arrested in the case.

The Enforcement Directorate alleged that a scam of more than Rs 2,500 crore was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 when Chhattisgarh was under the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government.