Chaitanya Baghel: Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel's Son Arrested, ED's Liquor Scam Probe Reaches His Doorstep

Bhupesh Baghel's son Chaitanya Baghel was arrested on Friday by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The arrest is in connection with a money laundering case that is linked to a suspected multi-crore liquor scam in the state. The central agency's move is barely hours after it resumed fresh raids at the residence of the Baghel family in Bhilai.

The Multi-Crore Liquor Scam

The ED probe accuses a well-organized cartel of government officers, politicians, and liquor businessmen of illegally siphoning a total of an estimated Rs 2,161 crore from Chhattisgarh liquor sales during 2019-2022. This is the period of the Congress government under Bhupesh Baghel. The scam is said to have involved manipulating the entire chain of liquor sales, a parallel system of liquor sales, and demanding bribes from all stakeholders. The Enforcement Directorate probe is based on an initial report given by the Income Tax Department, recognizing significant irregularities in the state's liquor business. The agency has already made some significant arrests in this high-profile case, including those of former IAS officer Anil Tuteja and liquor businessman Anwar Dhebar, among others. Chaitanya Baghel is suspected to be one of the major beneficiaries and a co-participant in the money laundering of illegal money collected through this sophisticated racket.

Political Implications and Legislative Action

The arrest has also triggered a political storm, and the former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, a senior Indian National Congress leader, has confirmed his son's arrest in a social media post. In his post, he attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, sarcastically referring to the arrest as a "birthday gift" for his son. He also hinted that the ED raids were a planned move to prevent him from raising important issues during the ongoing Assembly session. The Congress party has promptly referred to the action of the ED as an act of "political vendetta" by the BJP-led central government. Party workers and leaders surrounded Chaitanya Baghel, protesting what they call the misuse of central agencies to target opposition leaders and muffle voices of dissent, especially in the middle of an ongoing Assembly session where important issues were to be raised. This is a ramping up of the probe, taking the probe to the doorstep of the former Chief Minister's family.