Raipur (Chhattisgarh), July 18: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in connection with the ongoing investigation into a multi-crore liquor scam in the state.
The arrest follows hours after ED officials conducted raids at Chaitanya Baghel’s residence in Bhilai. The agency is probing allegations of large-scale money laundering and irregularities in the state’s liquor trade, involving government officials, politicians, and liquor businessmen.
According to ED officials, Chaitanya Baghel is allegedly a beneficiary of the proceeds of crime generated from the scam, with the total amount siphoned off estimated at ₹2,161 crore between 2019 and 2022.
Reacting to the developments, Bhupesh Baghel’s office posted on X, “ED has arrived. Today is the last day of the Assembly session. The issue of trees being cut in Tamnar for Adani was supposed to be raised today. ‘Saheb’ has sent the ED to the Bhilai residence.”
The former CM has consistently denied any wrongdoing, previously stating, “When the false case going on for seven years was dismissed in court, the ED arrived again. If someone is trying to stop Congress in Punjab through this conspiracy, it is a misunderstanding.”
Earlier in March, ED seized ₹30 lakh during raids at the residence of Bhupesh and Chaitanya Baghel. Investigations indicate that a significant part of the liquor sold in the state was not recorded in official documents, and bribes were allegedly collected from suppliers for allowing sales outside the legal system.
The ED’s case stems from a previous Income Tax Department report that highlighted discrepancies in the liquor distribution network. Several key individuals, including IAS officer Anil Tuteja and liquor businessman Anwar Dhebar (brother of Raipur’s mayor), have already been arrested in connection with the scam.
This marks yet another escalation in the probe, targeting senior figures associated with the former Congress-led government in Chhattisgarh.