Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], July 18 (HBTV): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted raids at the residence of Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, as part of its ongoing investigation into the alleged multi-crore liquor scam in the state.

The searches form part of the agency's broader crackdown on suspected money laundering and financial irregularities linked to the liquor trade.

Following the raids, Bhupesh Baghel's office posted on X: ‘ED has arrived. Today is the last day of the Assembly session. The issue of trees being cut in Tamnar for Adani was supposed to be raised today. "Saheb" has sent the ED to the Bhilai residence.’

This development comes months after the agency, in March, seized INR 30 lakh from the residence of Bhupesh Baghel and his son Chaitanya during a day-long search operation carried out at 14 locations across Chhattisgarh. The raids were in connection with alleged irregularities in the liquor trade, involving illegal commissions and suspected money laundering.

The ED stated that Chaitanya Baghel was a ‘recipient of proceeds of crime’ from the liquor scam, which allegedly involved the siphoning of around INR 2,161 crore through various schemes.

Reacting to the earlier raid, Bhupesh Baghel's office had posted on X: ‘When the false case going on for seven years was dismissed in the court, today the guests of ED have entered the Bhilai residence of former Chief Minister and Congress General Secretary Bhupesh Baghel this morning. If someone is trying to stop Congress in Punjab through this conspiracy, then it is a misunderstanding.’

According to the ED, a cartel comprising government officials, politicians, and liquor businessmen illegally collected approximately INR 2,161 crore from liquor sales between 2019 and 2022. The alleged scam involved manipulation of the liquor supply chain, with the cartel controlling sales and distribution through government-run shops.

The agency claimed that a portion of liquor sold was not recorded officially, and bribes were allegedly accepted from suppliers to permit off-the-books sales.

The probe stems from an earlier Income Tax Department report highlighting irregularities in the liquor trade.

Previously, the ED arrested several key accused, including IAS officer Anil Tuteja and liquor businessman Anwar Dhebar, brother of Raipur’s mayor. The agency has also conducted multiple raids targeting politicians and bureaucrats associated with the former Congress-led government in Chhattisgarh.

(ANI)