Liquor Scam Case: ED Arrests Ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel's Son, Chaitanya Baghel

Chaitanya Baghel, the son of ex-Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday in connection with the liquor scam investigation. The agency's crackdown coincided with Chaitanya Baghel's birthday and the final day of the state Assembly's Monsoon Session.

Bhupesh Baghel (L); Chaitanya Baghel (R) (Photo Credit: ANI)

Liquor Scam Case: Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's son, Chaitnya Baghel, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged multi-crore liquor scam in the state, according to ANI officials have confirmed. 

The action by the probe agency comes a few hours following the raids at Chaitanya Baghel's residence in Chhattisgarh. 

#WATCH | Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's son, Chaitnya Baghel (in yellow t-shirt), arrested by Enforcement Directorate, in connection with the ongoing investigation into alleged multi-crore liquor scam in the state, say officials.

Visuals from Durg,… pic.twitter.com/bRPTxqfu0b — ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2025

The searches were part of the ED’s action in the alleged money laundering and irregularities linked to the multi-crore scam. 

The ED’s crackdown coincided with Chaitanya Baghel's birthday and the final day of the state Assembly's Monsoon Session.

ED Raids On Bhupesh Baghel

According to IANS, the ED had conducted raids at the Bhilai residence of the ex-Chhattisgarh Chief Minister early Friday morning in connection with the case. Furthermore, this is the second such raid in six months against the senior Congress leader and his family.

Following the raids by ED, Bhupesh Baghel posted on X, “ED has arrived. Today is the last day of the Assembly session. The issue of trees being cut in Tamnar for Adani was supposed to be raised today. "Saheb" has sent the ED to the Bhilai residence.”

A large number of Congress workers in Bhilai raised slogans against the ED and the government following the raids.

ED’s Raids Against Chaitanya Baghel

The arrest of Chaitanya Baghel also comes months after the agency in March 2025 had seized Rs. 30 lakh recovered from the residence of Bhupesh Baghel and his son. The amount was recovered during a search operation conducted at a total of 14 locations across Chhattisgarh in the case related to alleged irregularities in the liquor trade in the state. 

As per ANI, ED has gathered that Chaitanya Baghel is also “a recipient of proceeds of crime generated from the liquor scam, wherein total proceeds of crime is around Rs. 2,161 crore siphoned off through various schemes.”

Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam

The ED's actions are linked to a money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), with Chaitanya Baghel at the centre.

According to the ED, government officials, politicians, and liquor businessmen allegedly ran a scheme that illegally collected around Rs. 2,161 crore from the sale of liquor in the state between 2019 and 2022. 

The alleged scam involved manipulation of the liquor supply chain, where a cartel controlled the sale and distribution of alcohol through government-run shops. A portion of liquor sold was not accounted for in official records, and bribes were allegedly collected from suppliers to allow its sale outside the legal system.

Earlier, the ED had also arrested several key accused, including liquor businessman Anwar Dhebar, brother of Raipur's mayor, and IAS officer Anil Tuteja.

(with agencies’ inputs)