In a politically charged development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in connection with an alleged ₹2,100 crore liquor scam that rocked the state between 2019 and 2022.
The arrest was made under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following fresh raids at the Baghel residence in Bhilai, Durg district.
Details of the Case
According to ED officials:
- A parallel excise network was allegedly run by a syndicate involving government officers and businessmen during Baghel’s tenure.
- Liquor was sold without proper accounting, causing massive losses to the state exchequer.
- Chaitanya Baghel is suspected to be a recipient of proceeds from the scam2.
The ED has already attached assets worth ₹205 crore and arrested several senior officials, including former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma, businessman Anwar Dhebar, and retired IAS officer Anil Tuteja
Arrest Coincides with Son’s Birthday & Assembly Session
The timing of the arrest — on Chaitanya Baghel’s birthday and the last day of the Monsoon Session of the Chhattisgarh Assembly — has sparked political controversy. Congress leaders, including Bhupesh Baghel, accused the central government of political vendetta.
Baghel posted on X:
“On my son’s birthday, ED raids our home. This is the kind of gift Modi and Shah give in a democracy.”
Congress MLAs staged a walkout from the Assembly, protesting what they called misuse of central agencies to target opposition leaders
Link to Adani Coal Mine Protest
Bhupesh Baghel also alleged that the ED action was timed to prevent him from raising the issue of tree felling in Tamnar tehsil for an Adani-linked coal mine project during the Assembly session
