Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], March 10: Following Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on the residence of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the state’s current Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai denied any involvement of the state government, clarifying that the probe was being carried out by a central agency.
Vishnu Deo Sai said, “Everyone knows that there were various scams under the Congress government, and central agencies are probing them. Some people are in jail, and some others are getting ready to go to jail. A central agency is conducting the probe; the state has no role to play in this.”
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao commented on the raids, emphasizing that the investigations into alleged scams during Bhupesh Baghel’s tenure were not new and had been ongoing for some time. He stated, “How can one deny that there have been big scams during the tenure of Bhupesh Baghel? ED action has been going on for a long time. It is not that any sudden action has been taken today. ED has been investigating for a long time. In the process of investigation, they must have found some facts and suspicions, and on the basis of that, ED has taken this action. If you have no role, then there should be no reason to be afraid or panic.”
The ED raids, which took place on Monday, targeted multiple locations linked to Bhupesh Baghel, his son Chaitanya Baghel, and other associates. The investigation is focused on the alleged multi-crore liquor scam in Chhattisgarh, involving illegal commissions and money laundering connected to the state’s liquor trade. The ED claims that Chaitanya Baghel is a recipient of proceeds from the scam, estimated at around Rs 2,161 crore, allegedly siphoned off through various schemes.
Bhupesh Baghel’s office responded to the raids by posting a message on social media, stating, “When the false case going on for seven years was dismissed in the court, today the guests of ED have entered the Bhilai residence of former Chief Minister and Congress General Secretary Bhupesh Baghel this morning. If someone is trying to stop Congress in Punjab through this conspiracy, then it is a misunderstanding.”
Congress MP Manickam Tagore came to Baghel’s defense, alleging that the ED was being used as a tool by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to target opposition leaders. He said, “We all know that ED has become the pet dog of PM Modi and Union HM Amit Shah. They can send this dog anywhere they want. Bhupesh Baghel has been a strong leader for Congress, and he has fought these battles. The Congress party and the people of Chhattisgarh stand with him.”
The ED’s operation, which involved multiple teams, is based on specific intelligence related to a scheme allegedly run by a cartel of government officials, politicians, and liquor businessmen. The scheme allegedly collected illegal funds amounting to Rs 2,161 crore from the sale of liquor between 2019 and 2022. The scam is said to involve manipulation of the liquor supply chain and unaccounted liquor sales, with bribes collected from suppliers for illegal distribution.
The investigation stems from a report by the Income Tax Department that flagged irregularities in the liquor trade. The ED has already arrested several key figures, including IAS officer Anil Tuteja and liquor businessman Anwar Dhebar, brother of Raipur’s mayor. The agency has previously raided several politicians and bureaucrats linked to the Congress-led government in Chhattisgarh.