In a major political and legal flashpoint, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 19 arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in connection with the ongoing money laundering investigation linked to the alleged ₹2,100 crore liquor scam.
Chaitanya was taken into custody from the Baghel family’s Bhilai residence under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), following what officials termed “fresh evidence” and a series of new raids. He was produced before a local court and has been remanded to five days of ED custody.
ED officials claimed Chaitanya was “non-cooperative” during the search operations, prompting his arrest which was done under heavy police protection, amid protests by Congress workers. The timing of the arrest—on Chaitanya’s birthday—has triggered a political outcry from the Congress party, which accused the central government of using investigative agencies to target opposition voices.
Bhupesh Baghel Slams ‘Political Vendetta’
Reacting strongly, Bhupesh Baghel addressed the media outside his residence and accused the Centre of resorting to “birthday vendetta politics”. “To please their masters, Modi and Shah have sent the ED to my house. Bhupesh Baghel won’t bow down. We will fight this battle of truth,” he said. Baghel also drew parallels to previous ED actions on his own birthday, calling the raids “gifts” from the BJP-led Centre. “Nobody in any democracy gives birthday gifts like these. This is not law enforcement; it’s political intimidation,” he remarked.
The Congress party on July 19 staged a walkout from the Chhattisgarh Assembly to protest the ED action, terming it a clear case of “misuse of central agencies to silence opposition leaders.” The party also linked the timing of the raid to a scheduled discussion in the Assembly about alleged deforestation in Tamnar for an Adani-operated coal mine project. Bhupesh Baghel had recently visited the affected area in Raigarh district to support protesting villagers.
“Today was the last day of the session. We were to raise the issue of trees being cut for Adani in Tamnar. But instead, the ED is raiding Bhilai Niwas,” read a statement from Baghel’s office.
Background of the Liquor Scam
The liquor scam is alleged to have taken place between 2019 and 2022, during the Congress government’s tenure. According to the ED, a syndicate illegally generated over ₹2,100 crore in profits by manipulating liquor sales and evading taxes—with alleged political backing.
Chaitanya Baghel is alleged to have been a beneficiary of the scam’s proceeds. The probe has already seen multiple arrests of Anwar Dhebar, brother of Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar; Former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma; IAS officer Anil Tuteja; and ITS officer Arunpati Tripathi.
The ED claims that commissions from the scam were distributed “as per directions from the highest political executives”. The ED has attached assets worth ₹205 croreso far.
In 2024, the Supreme Court quashed the ED’s original ECIR, which was based on an Income Tax complaint. The agency then urged the state’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to file a new FIR. That FIR was registered on January 17, 2024, shortly after the BJP won the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, naming 70 individuals and entities, including former ministers and bureaucrats.