Raipur
Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, has been sent to judicial custody after his arrest in connection with the alleged liquor scam. He was produced before a special court in Raipur today following the end of his Enforcement Directorate (ED) remand, and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days.
The ED arrested Chaitanya Baghel on 18 July from his Bhilai residence, on his birthday. He faces allegations of money laundering related to the Chhattisgarh liquor scam. The court had earlier sent him on a five-day remand for questioning.
ED Uncovers Details of Alleged Scam
On 21 July, the ED’s Raipur zonal office issued a press note stating Chaitanya Baghel was arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The ED initiated its investigation into the liquor scam based on an FIR registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offences Wing (ACB/EOW) Raipur, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Preliminary investigations suggest the alleged scam caused significant losses to the state exchequer, with approximately ₹2,500 crore in illegal proceeds reaching the beneficiaries involved.
Chaitanya Baghel Allegedly Received ₹16.70 Crore
ED investigations indicate Chaitanya Baghel received ₹16.70 crore in illegal proceeds. He allegedly used his real estate firms to launder these funds, utilising the cash in the development of his real estate projects. This included cash payments to contractors and bank entries against cash.
He is also accused of colluding with Trilok Singh Dhillon, using his companies to devise a scheme through which he indirectly received ₹5 crore under the guise of purchasing flats in his “Vitthalpuram Project” in the names of Dhillon’s employees. Banking trails reportedly show that Dhillon received payments from the liquor syndicate in his bank accounts during the relevant period.
Furthermore, Chaitanya Baghel is accused of handling over ₹1,000 crore in illegal proceeds from the liquor scam. He allegedly coordinated with Anwar Dhebar and others to transfer these proceeds to the then treasurer of the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee. The ED’s investigation has also revealed that funds obtained from this liquor scam were handed over to key associates of the Baghel family for further investment. The final use of these funds is under further investigation.
Other Arrests in the Case
The ED had previously arrested former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Arvind Singh, Trilok Singh Dhillon, Anwar Dhebar, ITS Arun Pati Tripathi, and former minister and current MLA Kawasi Lakhma in connection with this case. The investigation remains ongoing.
