RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh’s political landscape was rocked by a dramatic turn of events as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) detained Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel, in connection with an alleged liquor scam. The raid at Baghel’s Bhilai residence, which coincided with Chaitanya’s birthday, sparked widespread protests by Congress supporters and heightened tensions during the final day of the state Assembly’s monsoon session. As Bhupesh Baghel accused the central government of political vendetta, the incident ignited a fierce debate, blending personal milestones with political controversy. Here’s a detailed look at the unfolding drama.
The Liquor Scam: Unraveling the Allegations
Roots of the Scandal
The Chhattisgarh liquor scam, under scrutiny by the ED, pertains to alleged irregularities between 2019 and 2022, during Bhupesh Baghel’s tenure as Chief Minister. The ED claims that a syndicate involving senior officials, politicians, and excise department personnel orchestrated illegal liquor sales worth over Rs 3,200 crore, up from an initial estimate of ₹2,161 crore. The scam allegedly involved fake holograms and bottles to facilitate unauthorized sales through government liquor outlets, causing significant losses to the state exchequer.
Chaitanya Baghel’s Alleged Role
The ED alleges that Chaitanya Baghel was a beneficiary of the illicit proceeds from the scam. Prior raids in March 2025 at Chaitanya’s properties led to the seizure of Rs 30 lakh in cash, documents, and electronic devices. The latest action saw the ED detain Chaitanya for questioning at their Raipur office, marking a significant escalation in the probe.
Bhilai Raid: Tensions and Clashes
Early Morning Operation
The ED team, accompanied by CRPF personnel, arrived at Bhupesh Baghel’s Bhilai residence around 6:30 AM on July 18. The seven-hour raid, conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), culminated in Chaitanya’s detention. As news spread, hundreds of Congress workers and supporters gathered outside the residence, leading to a volatile situation that necessitated additional police deployment.
Protests and Stone-Pelting
The situation turned chaotic when ED officials left with Chaitanya. Angry supporters attempted to break barricades and reportedly pelted stones at the ED’s vehicles. Congress workers staged a sit-in, raising slogans against the central government and accusing it of misusing agencies for political gain. The heavy police presence struggled to maintain order amid the escalating unrest.
Bhupesh Baghel’s Response: A Charge of Political Vendetta
Social Media Outburst
Bhupesh Baghel took to social media platform X to condemn the raid, calling it a “birthday gift” from the Modi-Shah duo. In a post, he wrote, “ED has arrived. Today is the last day of the Assembly session, where I was set to raise the issue of tree-felling in Tamnar for Adani. The ‘Saheb’ has sent ED to my Bhilai residence.” In another post, he sarcastically thanked the central leaders for targeting his family, referencing past raids on his aides during his own birthday. Baghel accused the BJP-led central and state governments of orchestrating the raid to derail his plans to address environmental concerns in the Assembly.
Environmental Issue at Stake
Baghel claimed the raid was timed to prevent him from raising the issue of large-scale tree-felling in Tamnar, Raigarh, allegedly for an Adani Group project. The monsoon session, concluding on July 18, was a critical platform for Baghel to highlight this environmental concern, making the timing of the ED’s action a focal point of his allegations.
Assembly Chaos: Congress Walkout
Political Fallout in the House
The ED’s actions reverberated in the Chhattisgarh Assembly, where the monsoon session’s final day descended into chaos. Leader of Opposition Charandas Mahant accused the state government of pressuring central agencies to target Congress leaders. Congress MLAs staged a walkout, boycotting the session in protest, which disrupted proceedings and underscored the deepening political divide.
Government’s Stance
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai reiterated the state’s zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, emphasizing that investigations into scams from the previous Congress regime would be impartial. Sai assured that no one, regardless of their position, would be spared if found guilty.
The Liquor Scam’s Background: A Trail of Investigations
Scam’s Origins
The ED’s probe into the liquor scam began after an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) FIR highlighted irregularities during the Congress government’s tenure. Key figures named in the probe include IAS officer Anil Tuteja, businessman Anwar Dhebar, and former excise department MD AP Tripathi, accused of running a parallel liquor distribution network.
Previous Actions
In March 2025, the ED conducted raids at Chaitanya Baghel’s properties and those of his associate Lakshmi Narayan alias Pappu Bansal. Additionally, on July 11, 2025, the Chhattisgarh government suspended 22 excise department officials linked to the scam, signaling a broader crackdown.
A Collision of Politics and Probe
The Chhattisgarh liquor scam has transcended its financial roots to become a flashpoint in the state’s political arena. While Bhupesh Baghel and his supporters decry the ED’s actions as a politically motivated attack, the agency insists its moves are driven by concrete evidence. Chaitanya Baghel’s detention, coupled with the dramatic scenes at Bhilai and the Assembly, has intensified the rift between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress. As the investigation unfolds, it promises to reshape Chhattisgarh’s political narrative, with potential revelations that could reverberate beyond the state’s borders.
(India CSR)
