The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted searches at 14 locations in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district, including the residences of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his son Chaitanya Baghel, in connection with an alleged ₹2,161 crore liquor scam.
ED's Allegations and Findings
According to ED sources, Chaitanya Baghel is suspected of receiving proceeds from the scam, and searches were also carried out at the premises of Laxmi Narayan Bansal, a close associate of the Baghel family.
The scam allegedly operated between 2019 and 2023, siphoning off ₹2,161 crore through various schemes during the Congress-led government in Chhattisgarh.
Political Reactions and Conspiracy Claims
As the raids commenced, Bhupesh Baghel’s official X (Twitter) handle released a statement, calling the ED’s actions a political conspiracy to prevent him from working for the Congress in Punjab.
Baghel was recently appointed Congress General Secretary for Punjab, and sources indicate he has been actively involved in political preparations for the upcoming Punjab elections scheduled for two years from now.
Key Figures in the Liquor Scam
The ED’s Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), filed in January last year, named several individuals:
- Anwar Dhebar – Alleged mastermind, brother of Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar
- Anil Tuteja – Retired IAS officer, former Joint Secretary of Chhattisgarh
- Arun Pati Tripathi – Former Special Secretary, Commerce and Industry Department
- Other officials accused of illegally supplying unaccounted liquor to government liquor shops, causing massive revenue losses.
In January 2025, ED arrested former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma, alleging that he received ₹72 crore from the scam, which was partly used to build a Congress office and a home for his son.
The ED’s investigation into the Chhattisgarh liquor scam remains ongoing, with further developments expected in the coming days.
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