Why was Bhupesh Baghel's son Chaitanya arrested on his birthday by ED in Chhattisgarh liquor scam probe?
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Bhagel's son Chaitanya in connection with a probe into alleged liquor scam in the state. According to the central agency, beneficiaries of the scam, including Chaitanya, pocketed over ₹2,000 crore.
The central probe agency conducted fresh raids in connection with the case at multiple locations in Chhattisgarh on Friday. The raids were conducted based on fresh evidence in the case, the central agency said.
ED sleuths raided Baghel's home in Bhilai town of Durg district, which the father-son duo share, along with other locations related to Chaitanya.
Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel slammed the raids and said the Centre was misusing probe agencies to target opposition leaders. Baghel said he trusts the judiciary and will cooperate with them.
"To please their master, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have sent the ED to my house. We are not going to be scared or bow down. Bhupesh Baghel won't be afraid. We will fight the battle of truth," Baghel said.
The Congress leader charged, "On one hand, in Bihar, voters are being removed (from the voters list) with the help of the Election Commission...democracy is being stripped, and on the other hand, they are misusing the ED, IT, CBI, DRI to suppress opposition leaders. But now, people of the country have understood and are well aware," PTI reported.
"Nobody in any democracy in the world can give a birthday gift like the one Modi and Shah have given. On my birthday, both the most respected leaders sent the ED to the houses of my advisor and two OSDs. And now, on my son Chaitanya's birthday, an ED team is raiding my house. Thanks for these gifts. I will remember them for life," he said.
ED conducted similar raids against Chaitanya Baghel on March 10. The central agency is probing a money laundering case against Chaitanya. According to ED, Chaitanya Baghel was suspected to be the "recipient" of the proceeds from the alleged liquor scam.
ED charged the alleged scam resulted in a "massive loss" to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate with over ₹2,100 crore. Earlier, in January, ED arrested former minister and Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma, besides Anwar Dhebar, the elder brother of Raipur Mayor and Congress leader Aijaz Dhebar, former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer Arunpati Tripathi and some others as part of this probe.
India