ED raids former CM Bhupesh Baghel’s son, others in Chhattisgarh liquor ‘scam’   

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted searches at 14 locations linked to former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's son Chaitanya and others in Durg district in connection with an alleged liquor scam linked to a money-laundering case in the state.

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The raids began early on Monday morning.

According to sources, the ED has gathered that Chaitanya is also a recipient of proceeds of crime generated from the liquor scam wherein the total proceeds of crime is around Rs 2,161 crore siphoned off through various schemes, which led to a massive loss to the state exchequer.

Several individuals, including state government bureaucrats and businessmen, have already been arrested in connection with the case.

Further investigations in the case are under way.

ED raid a BJP's diversion tactic: Congress

Meanwhile, the Congress termed the ED raid a BJP's move to divert the country's attention from tariffs, falling economy, voter list fraud and other issues on the first day of Parliament session.

Congress leader Pawan Khera said the move is a BJP’s ploy to divert attention and change headlines when Opposition is all set to corner the government over issues in the Parliament.

"Today the ED raided Bhupesh Baghel' s place at Bhilai. This is not surprising since tradition has been started by the BJP to send the ED for Opposition. Nobody knows in which case this raid is being conducted and why it is conducted. The court has rejected a CBI case against Baghel. There is no case against him, still ED raid was conducted at his place. Maybe the Parliament session is starting today," said veteran Congress leader Khera.

"The BJP got the ED to raid the house of senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel in order to change the headlines and divert the country's attention from tariff, falling economy, voter list fraud, etc.," Khera added.

He said the move will not stop the Congress from raising issues against the government.

"The BJP should understand that it will neither be able to stop the Congress nor any of our leaders. We are not afraid, nor will we be afraid," he said.