Raipur: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the properties of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his son Chaitanya Baghel over the liquor scam. The searches were conducted at 14 sites in the state, including the houses of Chaitanya Baghel and his aides. The charge in this case is related to money laundering in connection with a liquor scam via which the state exchequer allegedly lost around ₹2,161 crore between 2019 and 2022.
The raids were carried out to collect evidence, electronic devices, and documents, as well as over Rs 3 crore in cash, which the ED informed were seized during the raids. Bhupesh Baghel’s home, approximately ₹30-33 lakh, was in cash, which he said came from declared family assets from farming and other sources. Also addressing the media, Baghel said the ED recovered a pen drive with taped conversations regarding money transfers between Mamturam and Dr. Punnet Gupta (the son-in-law of former CM Dr. Raman Singh), along with papers regarding a cell firm of Ply owned by the son of Dr. Raman Singh, Abhishek Sing.
Bhupesh Baghel has stated that the ED is engaging in political retaliation, and they failed to provide an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) number during the raids. He reiterated that the family’s wealth is legal and was declared. Baghel also pointed out that ED’s activities are nothing less than targeting opposition leaders before elections.
Under the liquor scam, the allegations are that the procurement and sale of liquor were mired in corruption and manipulation so certain liquor manufacturers benefitted at the behest of some officials and politicians. The ED had earlier arrested multiple politicians and top government officials in this case.