• Source:JND
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Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam Case: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's son, Chaitanya Baghel, in connection with the money laundering probe in the alleged multi-crore liquor scam in the state. Incidentally, today is Chaitanya Baghel's birthday.

The ED took Baghel's son into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after fresh raids were carried out at his home in Bhilai town in Durg. Chaitanya Baghel was arrested under Section 19 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, as he allegedly failed to cooperate during searches conducted following the receipt of fresh evidence in the case.

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Shortly after Chaitanya's arrest, Congress supporters staged a massive protest outside Bhupesh Baghel's residence in Durg against the ED raids in the alleged liquor scam. According to ED, the alleged scam took place from 2019 to 2022 when the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government was in power in Chhattisgarh.

Earlier in the day, Bhupesh Baghel, in a post on X, said 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," he said.

Reacting to his son's arrest, Baghel accused the Centre of "muzzling" opposition voices and vowed not to bow down in front of the central government. "Congress is fighting against Adani. This strategy has been adopted to muzzle the opposition. They are now targeting my son so that no one can raise their voice against Adani," he said.

"We will not get scared or bow down. Today, my son has been arrested on his birthday. Last year on my birthday, my advisor was targeted," Baghel said.

The ED earlier claimed that Chaitanya Baghel is also "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." In March this year, the ED seized Rs 30 lakh recovered from the residence of Bhupesh Baghel and his son Chaitanya.

What's The Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam Case?

The ED has alleged that a cartel of government officials, politicians, and liquor businessmen ran a scheme that illegally collected around Rs 2,161 crore from the sale of liquor in the state between 2019 and 2022. The alleged scam involved manipulation of the liquor supply chain, where a cartel controlled the sale and distribution of alcohol through government-run shops.

A portion of liquor sold was not accounted for in official records, and bribes were allegedly collected from suppliers to allow its sale outside the legal system. The investigation is based on an earlier Income Tax Department report, which flagged irregularities in the liquor trade.

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Earlier, the ED had arrested several key accused, including IAS officer Anil Tuteja and liquor businessman Anwar Dhebar, brother of Raipur's mayor. The agency had earlier conducted multiple raids, including on politicians and bureaucrats linked to the previous Congress-led government in Chhattisgarh.

 

(With Agencies Inputs)