Chhattisgarh ex-CM Bhupesh Bagel’s son Chaitnaya arrested in liquor scam case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested Chaitnaya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, in an alleged liquor scam linked money laundering case.
He was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after fresh raids were carried out at his home in Bhilai town in Durg district. The father-son duo reside at the same place.
The sources said that Chaitnaya Baghel was arrested under Section 19 of the anti-money laundering Act as he was allegedly not cooperating during the searches that came about following receipt of fresh evidence in the case.
A heavy posse of police personnel was seen outside the house, even as some party supporters gathered.
The senior Baghel said it was Chaitanya’s birthday today.
The development is likely to have serious political consequences as Bhupesh Baghel is in-charge of Punjab, where Assembly elections are due in March 2027.
Bhupesh Baghel, a senior Congress leader, posted a message on X saying the ED has come to his home on the last day of the assembly session when the issue of trees being felled for a coal mine project of the Adani group in Tamnar tehsil of Raigarh district was to be raised.
“Today is the last day of the state legislative (monsoon) session. The issue of trees being felled for Adani in Tamnar was scheduled to be raised (in the House). Saheb has sent ED to Bhilai Niwas," the message posted by his office said.
The federal probe agency conducted similar raids against Chaitanya Baghel on March 10.
The ED earlier claimed that Chaitanya Baghel was suspected to be the “recipient" of the proceeds from the alleged liquor scam. It has been said that the “scam" resulted in a “massive loss" to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate with over Rs 2,100 crore.
In this case, the ED in January 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 investigation.
According to the ED, the alleged liquor scam in the state was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 when Chhattisgarh was governed by the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government.
Assets worth about Rs 205 crore of various accused have been attached by the agency as part of this investigation so far.
According to the ED, the alleged commission generated through the illegal sale of liquor was shared “as per the directions from the highest political executives of the state."
India