Bhupesh Baghel's son arrested by ED following raids at his Chhattisgarh residence
Baghel's home in Bhilai town of Durg district, which the father-son duo share, was raided by the ED under the PMLA following receipt of fresh evidence in the case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday (July 18) arrested Chaitanya Baghel, the son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in connection with the alleged multi-crore liquor scam in the state.
The arrest came hours after the agency conducted fresh searches at the Baghel family's residence in Bhilai, Durg district, as part of its ongoing money laundering probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Baghel's home in Bhilai town of Durg district, which the father-son duo share, was raided by the ED under PMLA following receipt of fresh evidence in the case. Sources said the search action was against Chaitanya who is being investigated in the liquor scam case.
A heavy posse of police personnel was seen outside the house, even as some party supporters gathered.
The federal probe agency conducted similar raids against Chaitanya Baghel on March 10.
Also read | CBI raids Bhupesh Baghel’s properties in Chhattisgarh; former CM responds
Bhupesh Baghel, a senior Congress leader, posted a message on X saying the ED has 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 ED earlier claimed that Chaitanya Baghel was suspected to be the "recipient" of the proceeds from the alleged liquor scam. It has been said 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.
(With agency inputs)