Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam: Chaitanya Baghel Faces 14-Day Judicial Custody

Raipur: A Special Court in Raipur on Tuesday remanded Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, to 14 days of judicial custody in connection with the Chhattisgarh liquor scam case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) produced Chaitanya Baghel before the Special Court after five days of intense interrogation.

The ED alleges that Chaitanya played a central role in laundering over Rs 1,000 crore in proceeds from the multi-year excise scam. According to ED’s remand documents and statements, Chaitanya coordinated the movement of massive cash amounts through a network of some businessmen and political figures. The ED further alleges that a portion of the scam money was funneled into Chaitanya’s real estate venture, the Vitthal Green Project, operated under Baghel Developers.

Raids on the firm’s accountant revealed discrepancies in financial records. Soon after the arrest of Chaitanya, the ED issued a statement which said the probe revealed that Baghel received Rs 16.70 crore in scam proceeds, allegedly laundered through his real estate ventures, including the Vitthalpuram Project. He is also reported to have coordinated Rs 1,000 crore in transfers with liquor syndicate figures.

The ED cites banking trails and cash transactions linked to Baghel and his associates. Several other individuals have been arrested. The investigation is ongoing. The arrest has sparked political backlash. As the investigation unfolds, the ED continues to probe the financial trail and real estate links, while opposition leaders rally around claims of political vendetta.

The ED initiated the investigation based on an FIR registered by ACB/EOW, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, under various sections of the IPC, 1860, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, in the liquor scam in the state of Chhattisgarh. Police investigations have revealed that the Chhattisgarh liquor scam resulted in a massive loss to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries with more than Rs 2,500 crore of proceeds of crime (POC) generated by the commission of scheduled offenses.

The case, which has already led to multiple arrests and asset seizures, is shaping into one of the most politically charged corruption probes in recent history.