Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam: Ex-CM Bhupesh Baghel’s Son Chaitanya Arrested By ED On His Birthday

In a dramatic turn in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam probe, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel. The arrest, notably made on Chaitanya's birthday, followed an early morning raid at his Bhilai-3 residence and marks a significant escalation in the ED's investigation into the multi-crore liquor scandal that rocked the state.

Birthday Arrest Follows Fresh Evidence

According to officials, the arrest was carried out based on fresh evidence gathered in connection with the alleged money laundering operation linked to the manipulation of liquor sales and distribution during the Congress-led government between 2019 and 2022. The ED is probing a wide nexus involving government officials, liquor contractors, and politicians allegedly responsible for siphoning off public funds.

Morning Raid and Previous Crackdown

Around 6 AM on Friday, ED teams-accompanied by CRPF personnel-reached Chaitanya's residence in Bhilai-3 in three vehicles to conduct the search operation. This raid follows a similar crackdown in March 2025, when the agency searched 14 locations in Durg district, including those linked to Chaitanya Baghel and liquor businessman Laxmi Narayan Bansal, alias Pappu Bansal. That operation had led to the recovery of large sums of cash and the use of currency-counting machines-pointing to extensive financial misconduct.

Scam Involving Over ₹2,161 Crore Loss

The ED estimates that the scam cost the Chhattisgarh government over ₹2,161 crore. It allegedly operated through the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL), where bribes were taken from distillers in exchange for market access. The agency claims that the syndicate manipulated foreign liquor license (FL-10A) allotments and sold unaccounted country liquor through government-run outlets, generating massive illicit profits that were laundered through various means.

Political Fallout and High-Profile Accusations

Several prominent names have emerged during the investigation, including Anwar Dhebar, former bureaucrat Anil Tuteja, and former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma-who is alleged to have routinely accepted kickbacks. So far, the ED has attached assets worth ₹205 crore in the case.

The Congress party has come out strongly against the arrest, calling it a "brazen act of political vendetta." Party leaders allege that the BJP-led central government is weaponizing investigative agencies to target political opponents and manipulate the political climate ahead of future elections in Chhattisgarh.

With the ED expected to continue its crackdown and more names likely to emerge, the liquor scam is shaping up to be a key battleground in the state's intensifying political conflict.