In a high-profile political and legal development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday, July 18, 2025, arrested Chaitanya Baghel, the son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in connection with a wide-ranging money laundering investigation tied to the state’s alleged liquor scam.
#LiquorScam #MoneyLaundering
The arrest was carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following fresh raids conducted at Chaitanya’s residence in Bhilai, located in Durg district.
Both Chaitanya and his father, a senior Congress leader, reside at the same address, which became the focal point of the ED’s renewed probe into the financial scandal that allegedly led to a massive loss of over ₹2,100 crore to the state exchequer.
#EDAction #ChhattisgarhScam
According to sources within the federal agency, Chaitanya Baghel was taken into custody under Section 19 of the PMLA for non-cooperation during the search proceedings.
The arrest follows what the ED claims to be fresh evidence implicating him as a potential recipient of illicit proceeds from the illegal liquor distribution network.
A large police deployment surrounded the residence during the raid, while Congress supporters gathered in protest against what they termed as “politically motivated harassment.”
Reacting to the arrest, Bhupesh Baghel took to social media platform X to express his disapproval, pointing out that the ED’s move coincided with the last day of the Chhattisgarh Assembly monsoon session, when the opposition was set to raise questions about the felling of trees for a coal mine project involving the Adani Group in Tamnar tehsil, Raigarh.
#BhupeshBaghel #AdaniCoalMine #PoliticalVendetta
Today was the last day of the legislative session. The issue of deforestation for Adani in Tamnar was scheduled to be raised. Saheb has sent the ED to Bhilai Niwas,” read the statement posted by the former CM’s office, alluding to alleged attempts by the central government to silence dissent.
Earlier this month, Bhupesh Baghel had visited Tamnar and voiced support for local villagers opposing the mining project.
Notably, the coal mine has been allotted to MAHAGENCO (Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited), which has subcontracted the operations to the Adani Group as the Mine Developer-cum-Operator (MDO).
#TreeFelling #TamnarProtest
This is not the first time ED has knocked on Chaitanya Baghel’s door. A similar raid was conducted on March 10, 2025, as part of the agency’s broader probe into what it calls a statewide excise and liquor distribution scam that allegedly took place during the Congress government’s tenure (2019–2022).
The ED maintains that the scam was run through a liquor syndicate, which manipulated the production, procurement, and retail of alcohol in the state to generate illegal commissions, some of which, the agency alleges, were funneled to political insiders under the direction of “top political executives.”
The probe has so far led to the arrest of several key figures, including:
- Kawasi Lakhma, former Excise Minister (Congress)
- Anwar Dhebar, brother of Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar
- Anil Tuteja, ex-IAS officer
- Arunpati Tripathi, Ian ndian Telecom Service officer
#CorruptionProbe #PoliticalScandal
In addition, the ED has attached assets worth over ₹205 crore belonging to various individuals and entities believed to have profited from the scheme.
Interestingly, in 2024, the Supreme Court of India quashed the initial ECIR (equivalent to an FIR) filed by the ED, which was based on inputs from the Income Tax Department.
However, the agency regrouped and requested the Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to file a fresh FIR, based on the evidence ED had gathered.
This FIR was filed on January 17, 2024, just weeks after the BJP won the 2023 state assembly elections, replacing the Congress government.
The new FIR reportedly names 70 individuals and companies, including top former state officials such as:
- Vivek Dhand, former Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh
- Former Minister Kawasi Lakhma
- Other bureaucrats and business entities are allegedly linked to the illicit liquor trade
#CongressVsBJP #ChhattisgarhPolitics
With Chaitanya Baghel now in ED custody, the political temperature in Chhattisgarh has soared once again. The Congress party is expected to raise allegations of “central agency misuse”, while BJP leaders are likely to double down on their stand regarding “corruption under the previous regime.”
The ED is expected to present Chaitanya before a special PMLA court for custody proceedings, even as the broader investigation into the liquor mafia-politician nexus continues to unravel.