Chhattisgarh liquor scam: ED arrests ex-CM Bhupesh Baghel’s son Chaitanya

Raid, arrest coincide with Chaitanya’s birthday, agency cites fresh evidence

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel, on Friday. The arrest is linked to a money laundering case tied to a Rs.2,160-crore liquor scam allegedly carried out between 2019 and 2022.

The arrest occurred on Chaitanya Baghel’s birthday, following a series of searches by central agencies. The ED stated that the move was based on new evidence gathered in the case. Chaitanya Baghel was taken into custody from his residence in Bhilai after an early morning raid was conducted.

Parallel liquor network alleged to bypass state revenue

According to the ED, Chaitanya Baghel is suspected to have received proceeds from a large-scale liquor distribution scam during the Congress government’s tenure in Chhattisgarh. The agency claims an illicit network bypassed official channels, supplying unreported liquor directly from distilleries to state-run outlets. This operation allegedly evaded taxes and duties, causing major losses to the public treasury.

As the arrest was executed, Congress supporters clashed with police personnel and attempted to obstruct ED vehicles in Durg district, where Bhupesh Baghel and his son reside.

Bhupesh Baghel alleges political vendetta

Responding to the developments, Bhupesh Baghel criticized the Central government, accusing it of using enforcement agencies to intimidate opposition leaders. Speaking during the raid, he said he trusted the judiciary but condemned what he described as politically motivated action.

He also questioned the timing of the arrest, implying it was meant to distract from a scheduled debate in the Legislative Assembly regarding alleged deforestation for an Adani-linked coal project.

Congress accuses Centre of targeting the opposition

The Congress party echoed Bhupesh Baghel’s concerns, accusing the Central government of misusing agencies such as the ED, CBI, and Income Tax Department to target critics. In a social media post, the party alleged that the ED was sent to the former chief minister’s residence to preempt his remarks in the Assembly on environmental issues related to corporate interests.

Congress leaders claimed this is part of a broader strategy to silence dissent and discredit opposition figures ahead of political challenges.

Previous arrests and legal background

This case has already seen the arrest of several high-profile individuals, including former Congress minister Kawasi Lakhma, Anwar Dhebar (brother of Raipur’s mayor), former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, ITS officer Arunpati Tripathi, and others. The ED has so far attached assets worth approximately Rs.205 crore linked to the accused.

In 2024, the Supreme Court annulled the ED’s initial Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), which had been based on an Income Tax Department complaint. Following that, the ED sought a fresh FIR from the Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing (EOW), which was registered in January 2024, shortly after the BJP formed the state government following the 2023 elections.

The new FIR named 70 individuals and entities, including senior officials and political figures. According to the ED, illicit profits from liquor sales were allegedly distributed under the direction of top political leaders in the state.

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