ED arrests Bhupesh Baghel's son in liquor scam case; sent to 5-day remand

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, in an alleged liquor scam-linked money-laundering case, official sources said.

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He was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following fresh raids conducted at his residence in Bhilai town of Durg district. The father-son duo live at the same place.

A heavy posse of police personnel was seen outside the house, even as some party supporters gathered.

The senior Baghel said it is Chaitanya's birthday on Friday.

Sources said a special PMLA court sent Chaitanya to ED custody for five days.

Sources said Chaitnaya was arrested under Section 19 of the anti-money laundering law as he was allegedly not cooperating during the searches that came about following receipt of fresh evidence in the case.

Sources said companies allegedly linked to Chaitanya were the "recipient" of about Rs 17 crore "proceeds of crime" that were generated from the alleged liquor scam. Funds worth about Rs 1,070 crore are under the scanner of the agency vis-a-vis the role of junior Baghel, according to sources.

The ED has claimed that the "scam" resulted in a "massive loss" to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate with over Rs 2,100 crore.

Bhupesh Baghel, 63, posted a message on X, saying the ED had come to his home on the last day of the Assembly session when the issue of trees being felled for a coal mine project of the Adani group in Tamnar tehsil of Raigarh district was to be raised.

"Today is the last day of the state legislative (monsoon) session. The issue of trees being felled for Adani in Tamnar was scheduled to be raised (in the House). Saheb has sent ED to Bhilai Niwas," the message posted by his office said.

The senior Baghel, earlier this month, visited the tehsil and extended support to local villagers who have been protesting against tree-felling for a coal mine project in the area. The mine is allotted to Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MAHAGENCO), which has contracted the MDO (mine developer cum operator) to the Adani group.

The former chief minister said central agencies were being misused to target opposition leaders, but he trusted the judiciary and would cooperate with them.

Congress MLAs also boycotted the proceedings of the Chhattisgarh Assembly for the day as a mark of protest against the arrest and accused the agency of trying to harass the opposition.