The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted raids at the residence of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, his son Chaitanya Baghel, and several other locations in connection with an ongoing investigation into an alleged multi-crore liquor scam. The searches are being carried out at 14 locations across Chhattisgarh, with the probe focusing on alleged irregularities in the state’s liquor trade, including illegal commissions and money laundering.
According to ED sources, the premises of Bhupesh Baghel, his son Chaitanya, and close associates are being searched. The agency claims that Chaitanya Baghel is a “recipient of proceeds of crime” amounting to approximately Rs 2,161 crore, allegedly siphoned off through various schemes tied to the liquor trade.
In a response to the raids, Bhupesh Baghel’s office issued a statement on social media, condemning the action. “When the false case, which has been ongoing for seven years, was dismissed in court, today the guests of ED have entered the Bhilai residence of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. If someone is trying to stop Congress in Punjab through this conspiracy, then it is a misunderstanding,” the statement read.
The ED’s investigation centers on a cartel involving government officials, politicians, and liquor businessmen who allegedly manipulated the sale and distribution of alcohol between 2019 and 2022, amassing illegal profits. The investigation claims that liquor was sold outside legal channels, with bribes paid to suppliers to allow unaccounted sales.
The probe stems from an earlier report by the Income Tax Department, which flagged anomalies in the state’s liquor trade. The ED has already arrested several key figures, including IAS officer Anil Tuteja and liquor businessman Anwar Dhebar, who is the brother of Raipur’s mayor. The agency has previously raided multiple locations linked to the Congress-led government in Chhattisgarh.
