ED Raids Ex-CM Bhupesh Baghel’s Home in ₹2,161 Cr Liquor Scam Linked to Son, Timing Sparks Political Controversy

New Delhi (India) July 18: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's Bhilai home on Friday morning. The raids are in relation to a suspected Rs 2,161 crore liquor scam. The scam involves his son, Chaitanya Baghel.

Morning Raid at Bhilai Home

Officials say the ED team arrived at the Bhilai residence in three vehicles at around 6.30 am. They are accompanied by members of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

The searches are a part of an ongoing investigation into possible broad financial violations. This is in connection to the excise operations in Chhattisgarh.

According to the report, the Chhattisgarh liquor "scam" caused a "massive loss" for the state exchequer. It gives more than Rs 2,100 crore in criminal gains to the beneficiaries of an alcohol network.

Political Angle Highlighted

Meanwhile, the former chief minister has stated that the raids were an attempt to prevent him from bringing up the subject of tree-cutting. This is done for the Adani group in the State legislature.

Bhupesh Baghel was at the Bhilai house when the raids started. He generally stays at his house in Raipur during the Assembly session. 

The former Chief Minister sent the statement “ED aa agyi” in Hindi on social media to confirm the development.

Baghel's office said that the ED was sent just hours before the Congress was scheduled to bring up the matter of widespread tree cutting in Raigarh's Tamnar tehsil. This is done on the final day of the monsoon session of the Chhattisgarh legislative assembly. They are tying the action's timing to political development.

Baghel's office posted, “Today is the last day of the State legislative (monsoon) session. The issue of trees being felled for Adani in Tamnar was scheduled to be raised (in the House). Saheb has sent ED to Bhilai residence.”

Previous Raids

Chaitanya Baghel has already been the target of ED action. During raids at many locations connected to him in March of this year, the agency seized documents, electronic devices, and over Rs 30 lakh in cash.

On March 15, the Enforcement Directorate summoned Chaitanya Baghel. This happened one day after raids were investigated in alleged money laundering in a liquor fraud case.

Chaitanya Baghel is allegedly one of the people who received the profits of crime from the multi-crore excise fraud. The organization claims that a network of politicians, top bureaucrats and Excise Department personnel operated a "parallel" liquor distribution system as part of the scheme.

During the rule of Bhupesh Baghel, officials claimed that a copy of holograms and bottles were used to sell unauthorized alcohol through government-run stores. This diverted a sizable amount of state exchequer money.

ED teams also examined locations connected to Laxmi Narayan Bansal. He is a close associate of Chaitanya Baghel in connection with the same investigation. 

Aadrika Tayal