The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently conducted searches at the residence of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in Bhilai, Durg district, as part of an investigation into an alleged liquor scam. The raids also extended to properties linked to Baghel’s son, Chaitanya Baghel, and his associate, Laxmi Narayan Bansal, also known as Pappu Bansal. These searches were carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which allows the ED to investigate financial crimes and suspected money laundering activities.
During the search at Baghel’s residence, authorities reportedly discovered around ₹32-33 lakh in cash. Baghel, who resides there with his wife, children, and grandchildren, attributed the cash to legitimate sources, including farming on 140 acres of land, dairy farming, and family savings. He also emphasized that the money was spread across different members of the family, including his wife, son, daughters, and daughter-in-law. In his statement, Baghel also mentioned that the agency had found a pen drive containing a conversation about financial transactions involving Manturam and Puneet Gupta, the son-in-law of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh. Additionally, papers related to the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and linked to Abhishek Singh, the son of Raman Singh, were also reportedly discovered.
Baghel has strongly condemned the raids, calling them an attempt to create political pressure and malign his image. He stated that he had been expecting such an action for a long time, adding that he was calmly reading a newspaper and having tea when the ED officials arrived. According to him, the agency brought note-counting machines to make a spectacle out of the situation and create an atmosphere of suspicion around him. “An atmosphere was created that note counting machines had been brought. I don’t think this is a very big amount. It is clear that now asking questions in Vidhan Sabha has become a crime,” Baghel remarked.
The ED’s investigation pertains to an alleged liquor scam in Chhattisgarh that reportedly took place between 2019 and 2022. The agency claims that a syndicate was involved in manipulating liquor policies and establishing a parallel system for liquor sales, ultimately generating illicit proceeds amounting to approximately ₹2,161 crore. The ED has alleged that bribes were taken from distillers and retailers, with illegal commissions being collected at multiple levels within the state’s liquor industry. The agency had previously arrested several individuals in connection with the case, including IAS officer Anil Tuteja and businessman Anwar Dhebar, brother of Raipur’s former mayor.
Baghel, who recently took on a new role as the Congress party’s general secretary in charge of Punjab, believes that the ED’s actions are politically motivated. He has suggested that the raids are an attempt to disrupt his work and create obstacles for him ahead of the upcoming elections. In his view, such actions reflect the frustration of his political opponents, who are trying to discredit him through investigative agencies. The former chief minister has maintained that he has nothing to hide and has fully cooperated with the agency during the search.
The ED’s probe is still ongoing, with investigators analyzing the seized documents, electronic evidence, and financial records to establish links between various individuals allegedly involved in the scam. More searches and possible legal actions are expected in the coming days as the agency continues to build its case. Baghel, on the other hand, remains defiant, asserting that he will not be intimidated by such tactics and will continue to raise his voice on important political and governance issues.
