Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday in connection with a liquor scam. The arrest took place at his Bhilai residence after an early morning raid by ED officials. He was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and later sent to five days of ED custody.
This arrest is part of a broader investigation into alleged irregularities in the state’s liquor policy during the Congress government’s rule. The ED’s case is based on an FIR filed by the Chhattisgarh Anti-Corruption Bureau, which named around 70 individuals and entities. The agency suspects that nearly ₹1,000 crore worth of proceeds from the scam were laundered through real estate firms linked to Chaitanya and his associates.
In response, the Congress party walked out of the Chhattisgarh Assembly in protest. Leaders accused the ED of targeting Opposition members and their families. Bhupesh Baghel claimed the arrest was politically motivated, aiming to distract from the Adani issue that was set to be raised in the Assembly. He alleged the Centre was misusing agencies to suppress dissent.
