Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel's Son Chaitanya Baghel Arrested in Multi-Crore Liquor Scam

Chhattisgarh's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, along with co-accused Dipen Chawda, on Wednesday in connection with a massive liquor scam. Both were produced before a special Prevention of Corruption Act court and remanded in custody until October 6.

Chaitanya had been in judicial custody since July 18 after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). His custody was transferred to ACB/EOW after the agency obtained a production warrant.

Alleged Scam Details

The liquor scam, estimated at over Rs 2,500 crore, is alleged to have occurred between 2019 and 2022 during the Congress government led by Bhupesh Baghel. Investigators claim Chaitanya Baghel was a key figure in the syndicate, personally handling around Rs 1,000 crore in illicit proceeds and conspiring to conceal and route these funds.

According to the ED, the network earned money through:

Commissions on official liquor sales

Proceeds from unaccounted or illegal liquor

Bribes from distillers are forming a cartel to control the state's liquor business

Defence Alleges Political Targeting

Chaitanya's lawyer, Faisal Rizvi, called the arrest politically motivated, claiming there is no concrete evidence against his client. Rizvi highlighted that in the main and supplementary ACB/EOW chargesheets, Chaitanya's name was not included, and out of 45 listed accused, 29 have not been arrested.

He added that Chaitanya was named only after statements from another accused, Laxmi Narayan Bansal, related to the handling of Rs 1,000 crore.

Wider Network Under Investigation

Investigations by ACB and ED have uncovered a network involving senior politicians, bureaucrats, and businessmen. An FIR filed in January 2024, after the BJP assumed power in the state, listed 70 individuals and companies, including former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma and ex-chief secretary Vivek Dhand.

Several high-profile figures, including Lakhma, Anwar Dhebar, ex-IAS officer Anil Tuteja, and ITS officer Arunpati Tripathi, have already been arrested. Agencies allege that illicit proceeds were routed to top Congress leaders and party functionaries during Bhupesh Baghel's tenure.