Chhattisgarh liquor scam case: In Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. This arrest has been made in the money laundering case related to the liquor scam. However, it has not been officially confirmed.
ED is investigating the Chhattisgarh liquor scam case. ED has registered an FIR. The FIR mentions a scam of more than 2 thousand crores.
Chaitanya Baghel has been arrested under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The arrest followed fresh raids at the Baghel residence in Bhilai on Friday and was based on what officials said was new evidence linking him to proceeds from the alleged Rs 2,100-crore scam.
According to ED officials, Chaitanya was non-cooperative during the search, prompting his immediate arrest. A heavy police presence was seen outside the Bhilai residence, where several Congress workers gathered in protest. The arrest also happened to coincide with Chaitanya’s birthday—a fact highlighted by Bhupesh Baghel, who accused the BJP-led Centre of political vendetta and misuse of central agencies.
ED found in its investigation that the scam was carried out during the tenure of the then Bhupesh government through a syndicate of IAS officer Anil Tuteja, MD of Excise Department AP Tripathi and businessman Anwar Dhebar.
Bhupesh Baghel said - Last time ED was sent on my birthday. This time on my son's birthday, Modi-Shah have sent ED to please their master. Bhupesh Baghel will neither bow down nor be afraid. Today the issue of Adani will be raised in the assembly, so ED has been sent.
Prakash Kumar Pandey