RAIPUR, July 18: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, in an alleged liquor scam-linked money laundering case, official sources said.
He was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following fresh raids conducted at his residence in Bhilai town of Durg district. The father-son duo reside at the same place.
A heavy posse of police personnel was seen outside the house, even as some party supporters gathered.
The senior Baghel said it is Chaitanya’s birthday on Friday.
A special PMLA court sent Chaitanya to ED custody for five days, the sources said.
The sources said Chaitnaya was arrested under Section 19 of the anti-money laundering law as he was allegedly not cooperating during the searches that came about following receipt of fresh evidence in the case.
The sources said companies allegedly linked to Chaitanya were the “recipient” of about Rs 17 crore “proceeds of crime” that were generated from the alleged liquor scam. Funds worth about Rs 1,070 crore are under the scanner of the agency vis-a-vis the role of junior Baghel, according to the sources.
The ED has claimed that the “scam” resulted in a “massive loss” to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate with over Rs 2,100 crore.Bhupesh Baghel, 63, posted a message on X saying the ED had come to his home on the last day of the Assembly session when the issue of trees being felled for a coal mine project of the Adani group in Tamnar tehsil of Raigarh district was to be raised.
“Today is the last day of the state legislative (monsoon) session. The issue of trees being felled for Adani in Tamnar was scheduled to be raised (in the House). Saheb has sent ED to Bhilai Niwas,” the message posted by his office said. (PTI)
