Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao responded to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) raids at the residence of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, stating that the action was not sudden and was based on a long-standing investigation. He questioned how one could deny the existence of significant scams during Bhupesh Baghel’s tenure, reinforcing that the ED’s actions were part of an ongoing probe.
Sao further emphasized, “If you have no role in any wrongdoing, then there should be no reason to fear or panic. The ED has been investigating for a long time, and if they found facts or suspicions during their investigation, they are just doing their job.”
The raids, which took place on Monday, targeted Bhupesh Baghel’s residence, along with his son Chaitanya Baghel’s property, in connection with an investigation into an alleged multi-crore liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. According to the ED, the scam involved illegal commissions and money laundering related to the state’s liquor trade, with the Baghel family and their associates allegedly receiving proceeds from the illicit operation.
Bhupesh Baghel’s office, in response to the raids, denied the allegations, calling them a continuation of a “false case” that had been dismissed in court. In a post on X, the former CM’s office claimed the raid was part of a conspiracy to harm the Congress party, especially in Punjab, where it is facing challenges.
The ED’s investigation, which has been ongoing for months, claims that a cartel involving government officials, politicians, and liquor businessmen siphoned off approximately Rs 2,161 crore through the manipulation of the liquor supply chain between 2019 and 2022. The alleged scam involved unaccounted liquor sales and bribery to facilitate illegal transactions.
The ED has already arrested key suspects, including IAS officer Anil Tuteja and liquor businessman Anwar Dhebar, who is linked to Raipur’s mayor.
