Bhupesh Baghel's Son Arrested On Birthday In Liquor Scam Case, Ex-CM Thanks ED For 'Gifts'

Last Updated:July 18, 2025, 13:47 IST

The arrest triggered a sharp political reaction from Bhupesh Baghel, who accused the BJP-led Centre of misusing agencies to target opposition leaders.

ED was conducting raids at Ex-CM Bhupesh Baghel's residence since morning.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged ₹2,100 crore liquor scam. He was taken into custody from the family’s residence in Bhilai under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), following fresh raids prompted by new evidence, official sources said.

ED officials alleged that Chaitanya Baghel was non-cooperative during the search, which led to his immediate arrest. A heavy deployment of police personnel was seen outside the Bhilai residence, where party workers had also gathered. The arrest came on Chaitanya’s birthday, a fact highlighted by Bhupesh Baghel, who accused the central government of political vendetta.

Speaking to the media outside his Bhilai residence, Baghel said, “To please their master, Modi and Shah have sent the ED to my house. We are not going to be scared or bow down. Bhupesh Baghel won’t be afraid. We will fight the battle of truth." “On one hand, in Bihar, voters are being removed (from the voters list) with the help of the Election Commission…democracy is being stripped, and on the other hand, they are misusing the ED, IT, CBI, DRI to suppress opposition leaders. But now, people of the country have understood and are well aware," he said.

The Congress leader said, “The ED had come in the past as well and raided my place and found Rs 33 lakh in my house. Now they have come again. What does this mean? We will fully cooperate, whether they trust us or not, we believe in democracy and the judiciary. They (BJP) are misusing the agency, but we will cooperate with them." He further questioned the timing of the raid, which coincided with his son Chaitanya’s birthday.

“Nobody in any democracy in the world can give a birthday gift like the one Modi and Shah have given. On my birthday, both the most respected leaders sent the ED to the houses of my advisor and two OSDs. And now, on my son Chaitanya’s birthday, an ED team is raiding my house. Thanks for these gifts. I will remember them for life," he said.

Political Fallout And Allegations

Bhupesh Baghel, a senior Congress leader, took to social media to criticise the timing of the raid, alleging that it was meant to divert attention from a key issue scheduled for discussion on the last day of the state assembly’s monsoon session. “Today is the last day of the session. We were set to raise the issue of trees being felled for Adani in Tamnar. Instead, Saheb has sent the ED to Bhilai Niwas," read a post from Baghel’s office.

Earlier this month, Baghel had visited Tamnar tehsil in Raigarh district, extending support to locals protesting deforestation linked to a coal mine project. The mine, allotted to MAHAGENCO (Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited), has contracted the Adani Group as the Mine Developer and Operator (MDO).

Background Of The Probe

The ED alleges that the liquor scam was carried out between 2019 and 2022, during the tenure of the Congress-led state government. According to the agency, Chaitanya Baghel was a suspected recipient of the scam’s proceeds, which reportedly generated illegal profits exceeding ₹2,100 crore for a powerful liquor syndicate at the cost of the state exchequer.

The case has led to several high-profile arrests, including former minister Kawasi Lakhma, Anwar Dhebar (brother of Raipur Mayor and Congress leader Aijaz Dhebar), former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, and ITS officer Arunpati Tripathi. Assets worth ₹205 crore have been attached so far.

In 2024, the Supreme Court quashed the ED’s initial Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), which was based on an Income Tax Department complaint. The agency subsequently requested the Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to file a new FIR using material shared by ED.

On January 17 last year, a new FIR was registered by the EOW/ACB—shortly after the BJP’s victory over the Congress in the 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly elections. The complaint named 70 individuals and companies, including former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma and former chief secretary Vivek Dhand.

According to the ED, commissions from illegal liquor sales were distributed “as per directions from the highest political executives of the state," pointing to deep political entanglement in the alleged scam.

Previous Action

This is not the first time ED has acted against Chaitanya Baghel. Similar raids were conducted on March 10, making Friday’s arrest a significant development in the ongoing investigation, one that has escalated both politically and legally in recent months.

Bhilai Charoda, India, India

News politics Bhupesh Baghel's Son Arrested On Birthday In Liquor Scam Case, Ex-CM Thanks ED For 'Gifts'