The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at the residence of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in Raipur and Bhilai on Wednesday. The raids come amid an ongoing probe into the alleged multi-crore liquor scam in the state.
Baghel, who was scheduled to travel to Delhi for a meeting of the All India Congress Committee’s (AICC) ‘Drafting Committee’ ahead of the Ahmedabad session on April 8-9, confirmed the development through a social media post.
“Now CBI has come. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is scheduled to go to Delhi today for the meeting of the ‘Drafting Committee’… Even before that, CBI has reached his Raipur and Bhilai residence,” a post from Baghel’s office stated on his official X handle.
The raids come weeks after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at Baghel’s residence and those of his family members on March 10. The ED alleges that a cartel involving government officials, politicians, and liquor businessmen illegally amassed ₹2,161 crore from the sale of alcohol between 2019 and 2022.
Following the ED’s searches, Baghel took to social media to claim that officials found only three items of significance:
- A pen drive containing a conversation about a financial transaction between Manturam Pawar and Dr. Puneet Gupta (former CM Raman Singh’s son-in-law).
- Papers related to SAIL company linked to Raman Singh’s son, Abhishek Singh.
- ₹33 lakh in cash, which he claimed was accounted for.
Baghel also criticized the agency for not providing an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) number.
Dismissing reports that his son, Chaitanya Baghel, had been summoned by the ED, Baghel alleged that central agencies were being misused to target opposition leaders.
“No notice has been received, so there is no question of appearing anywhere. We will certainly appear before them once we receive a notice… This is a conspiracy by the BJP to defame leaders,” Baghel told reporters.
The ED has previously conducted multiple raids on politicians and bureaucrats linked to the former Congress-led government in Chhattisgarh. The investigation remains ongoing.
