New Delhi [India], July 27 (HBTV): After the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate on Friday alleged that the arrest was part of a ‘political vendetta and witch-hunt’ by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against opposition leaders.

Calling the ED's charges ‘false and fabricated’, Shrinate said the Baghel family would not be intimidated. ‘I believe that the political vendetta and witch-hunt is of the worst kind, which is happening in India. When you cannot catch leaders, you go after their kith and kin. ED has not done this for the first time. It has happened repeatedly. The law will take its course. However, neither Bhupesh Baghel nor his family will be intimidated by these fabricated and false charges,’ she said.

Chaitanya Baghel was arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation into an alleged multi-crore liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. His arrest followed ED raids conducted at his residence in Raipur as part of a broader investigation into suspected money laundering and irregularities linked to the liquor trade.

Reacting to the development, 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.’

The ED action comes months after the agency allegedly recovered INR 30 lakh from the residence of Bhupesh Baghel and his son in March during a day-long search across 14 locations in the state. The case pertains to suspected illegal commissions and money laundering linked to liquor trade irregularities.

The ED has alleged that Chaitanya Baghel is ‘a recipient of proceeds of crime generated from the liquor scam’, stating that around INR 2,161 crore was siphoned off through various schemes.

Speaking outside his residence, Bhupesh Baghel alleged that the central government was targeting opposition leaders. ‘A matter related to Adani has come up. To make him happy, Modi and Shah have sent the ED to my residence. We will not be scared. We will not bow down before them. They are targeting all opposition leaders in the country. ED had visited my residence earlier as well. We will fully cooperate with the agencies. We have faith in democracy and the judiciary,’ he said.

(ANI)