Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel’s Son Chaitanya Arrested By ED In Alleged Liquor Scam Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Chaitnaya Baghel the son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday (18 July) in connection with a money laundering case tied to an alleged liquor scam, news agency PTI reported, citing official sources.

ED officials took him into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after fresh raids were raids were carried out at his home, which he shares with his father, in Bhilai town in Durg district.

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

The agency had earlier claimed Chaitanya Baghel was suspected to be the 'recipient' of the proceeds from the alleged liquor scam.

The 'scam' allegedly 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.

The alleged liquor scam in the state, according to the ED, was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 when Chhattisgarh was governed by the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government.

The ED has already frozen approximately Rs 205 crore in assets linked to various accused, including several politicians, a former IAS officer, and other officials, as part of its probe.

Bhupesh Baghel sharply criticised the move. He noted that the arrest came on the final day of the Assembly’s monsoon session—when discussions were expected on tree-felling for Adani’s coal-mining project—and coincided with his son’s birthday.

On X, he remarked: “The kind of birthday gift that Modi and Shah ji give cannot be given by anyone in any democracy in the world… Thank you for these gifts. They will be remembered for a lifetime".

This arrest marks the latest action in the liquor-scam investigation.

Earlier this year, the ED arrested former minister Kawasi Lakhma and others, following a fresh FIR filed in January 2024 after the Supreme Court quashed the original—signalling an intensified focus on alleged corruption during the previous Congress-led government .

Also Read: 'Give Up Crime Or Leave The State': UP Police Arrested Over 30,000 Criminals Since 2017; Over 9,000 Injured, 238 Killed In Encounters