Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday sharply criticized the central government over the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) arrest of Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, calling it a political tactic aimed at silencing dissent and suppressing the opposition.
In a post on X, Priyanka alleged that the arrest was timed to prevent Bhupesh Baghel from raising serious environmental and land rights concerns in the Chhattisgarh Assembly. “The BJP government has handed over the forests of Chhattisgarh to Adani, destroying them in violation of PESA laws and NGT directives. Bhupesh Baghel was set to raise this issue today, but the ED arrested his son to stop him,” she wrote.
Labeling the move as part of a larger pattern, the Wayanad MP said, “For the past 11 years, the country has seen how the central government uses such tactics to suppress people’s voices and stifle the opposition. But truth cannot be silenced, and Congress stands firmly with Baghel ji.”
Chaitanya Baghel was arrested Friday in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged ₹2,161 crore liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. The ED conducted early morning raids at his residence in Bhilai, hours before the final day of the Assembly session.
Reacting to the raid, Bhupesh Baghel’s office posted: “Today is the last day of the Assembly session. The issue of tree cutting in Tamnar for Adani was to be raised. ‘Saheb’ sent the ED to the Bhilai residence.”
The ED alleges that Chaitanya Baghel is a beneficiary of proceeds from the scam, which involved a cartel of government officials, politicians, and liquor businessmen. According to the agency, the group siphoned off over ₹2,161 crore between 2019 and 2022 by manipulating liquor sales and distribution in government-run shops.
Earlier raids in the case had resulted in the arrest of senior officials and liquor traders, including IAS officer Anil Tuteja and Anwar Dhebar, the brother of Raipur’s mayor. The case stems from an Income Tax Department investigation that flagged financial irregularities in Chhattisgarh’s liquor trade.
As political tensions escalate, the Congress has accused the ruling BJP of using central agencies as instruments of intimidation ahead of upcoming state and national elections.
