1 month ago
Last Updated:March 10, 2025, 19:32 IST
Earlier today, the probe agency carried out extensive searches at the residence of Chaitanya Baghel in connection with an alleged liquor scam linked to a money laundering case in the state.
The Congress said the raids against the Baghels were a "conspiracy" to "manage headlines" (PTI)
A team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials was attacked and manhandled outside former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s residence in Raipur on Monday.
Earlier today, the probe agency raided 14 locations in Durg district, including residential and other premises owned by Baghel, and his son, Chaitanya, as part of an ongoing investigation into the state’s alleged liquor scam.
As per the preliminary information, Congress workers, agitated with the raids, clashed with police personnel deployed outside Baghel’s residence and raised slogans against the probe agency. During the clash, some ED personnel were man handled. The probe agency is likely to file a case against the protestors.
ED Raids At Baghel’s Residence
Earlier today, the probe agency carried out extensive searches at the residence of Chaitanya Baghel in connection with an alleged liquor scam linked to a money laundering case in the state.
The premises of Bhupesh Baghel’s son– Chaitanya Baghel– in Bhilai (Durg district), an alleged close associate of Chaitanya Baghel, Laxmi Narayan Bansal alias Pappu Bansal, and some others are also being searched under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the sources said.
According to ED sources, Chaitanya is allegedly the recipient of proceeds of crime generated from the liquor scam, with a staggering amount of around Rs 2,161 crore allegedly siphoned through various fraudulent schemes. The cumulative worth of Chhattisgarh’s liquor scam now stands around Rs 4,000 crore, with investigators looking at the fresh leads.
The probe agency earlier said the Chhattisgarh liquor “scam" resulted in “massive loss" to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate with more than Rs 2,100 crore of proceeds of crime. During its probe, the probe agency arrested several suspects, including state government officials and business figures, in the case.
Last year, federal investigators probing the alleged liquor fraud claimed that a criminal syndicate was orchestrating illegal bribe collections by exerting control over top management in key state departments and public sector units in Chhattisgarh.
Conspiracy To ‘Manage Headlines’, Says Congress
The Congress said the raids against the Baghels were a “conspiracy" to “manage headlines" on a day when Parliament’s Budget session reconvened and the government faced questions from the opposition on multiple issues.
Soon after the searches, a number of Congress leaders and workers gathered outside Baghel’s house in Bhilai.
They staged a protest outside the house against the ED and claimed it to be a conspiracy by the Centre.
Baghel’s office on his X handle said the “false case" against him is carrying on for the last seven years. It also said that no one will be able to stop the Congress in Punjab, where Baghel has just taken over as in-charge of party affairs.
“When the false case going on for seven years was dismissed in the court, today ED guests have entered the Bhilai residence of former chief minister, Congress general secretary Bhupesh Baghel this morning. If someone is trying to stop Congress in Punjab through this conspiracy, then it is a misunderstanding," the Baghel’s office said in the post in Hindi.
Location :Raipur, India, India
First Published:March 10, 2025, 19:32 IST
News india ED Team Attacked Outside Bhupesh Baghel’s House In Raipur, Probe Agency To Register Case
