Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], July 19 (HBTV): Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of targeting Congress leaders, especially the Gandhi family, as part of a political campaign to defame them.

Baghel alleged that the BJP, having failed to achieve much themselves, is resorting to tactics aimed at weakening the opposition, including the recent arrest of his son.

‘It is the policy of the BJP to defame Congress leaders. The Congress party has always fought for the interest of the nation. So, the entire Gandhi family was targeted in order to defame them. But the entire nation and country know that this is a family which makes sacrifices for the nation. They themselves cannot do anything, so they want to weaken others. So, they arrested my son. They are trying to suppress me but I will neither get scared nor suppressed,’ Baghel said.

Earlier on Friday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of Bhupesh Baghel, in connection with an ongoing investigation into an alleged multi-crore liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. The arrest followed raids conducted at Chaitanya’s residence in Bhilai as part of the agency’s larger probe into suspected money laundering and financial irregularities linked to the scam.

Following the ED’s action, 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 move comes months after the ED, in March this year, seized INR 30 lakh from the residence of Bhupesh Baghel and his son during a day-long search operation conducted at 14 locations across Chhattisgarh. The case pertains to alleged irregularities in the state's liquor trade involving suspected illegal commissions and money laundering.

According to the ED, Chaitanya Baghel is a recipient of proceeds of crime generated from the liquor scam, with total estimated proceeds amounting to approximately INR 2,161 crore siphoned off through various schemes.

Meanwhile, Bhupesh Baghel also alleged that the BJP is conspiring to hand over the state’s power plants, cement plants, and mines to the Adani Group. In response, he announced a statewide chakka jam protest on July 22.

‘All power plants, cement plants, mines are going to Adani. So, there will be a chakka jam across the state on 22nd July against the conspiracy to hand over Chhattisgarh to Adani and suppress us,’ Baghel stated.

(ANI)