Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India]: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at the residence of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel, his son Chaitanya Baghel, and others in connection with an ongoing investigation into an alleged multi-crore liquor scam, according to sources.
Reacting to the raids, Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Arun Sao, questioned the legitimacy of denying corruption during Bhupesh Baghel’s tenure.
“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, and if you have no role, then there should be no reason to be afraid or panic,” Arun Sao stated.
The raids were carried out at a total of 14 locations across Chhattisgarh, focusing on alleged irregularities in the state’s liquor trade, which reportedly involved illegal commissions and money laundering.
Sources within the ED claimed that the searched premises are linked to Bhupesh Baghel, his son Chaitanya Baghel, and their close associates. According to the ED, Chaitanya Baghel is alleged to be a “recipient of proceeds of crime generated from the liquor scam wherein total proceeds of crime is around Rs 2,161 crore siphoned off through various schemes.”
Responding to the ED’s actions, Bhupesh Baghel’s office posted on X, 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.”
The ED’s investigation has alleged that a cartel of government officials, politicians, and liquor businessmen orchestrated a scheme that illegally amassed approximately Rs 2,161 crore from liquor sales in Chhattisgarh between 2019 and 2022. The scam reportedly involved manipulating the liquor supply chain, with a cartel controlling the sale and distribution of alcohol through government-run outlets.
A portion of the liquor sold was allegedly not documented in official records, and bribes were purportedly collected from suppliers to facilitate sales outside the legal framework.
The ED’s investigation is based on a prior report by the Income Tax Department, which highlighted irregularities in the liquor trade.
As part of the probe, the ED has arrested several key suspects, including IAS officer Anil Tuteja and liquor businessman Anwar Dhebar, the brother of Raipur’s mayor. The agency had earlier conducted multiple raids targeting politicians and bureaucrats linked to the previous Congress-led government in Chhattisgarh.