NEW DELHI: In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today executed raids at multiple locations in Chhattisgarh, including the residence of former Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel in Bhilai. The operation is part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged liquor scam involving the diversion of approximately โน2,161 crore from the stateโs exchequer.
The EDโs action targeted 14 locations across Durg district, focusing on properties associated with Bhupesh Baghelโs son, Chaitanya Baghel, and his close associate, Laxmi Narayan Bansal, also known as Pappu Bansal. The premises were searched under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), aiming to uncover financial irregularities linked to the alleged liquor syndicate.
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Investigators are scrutinizing financial transactions to determine if funds from the alleged scam were funneled into businesses or assets connected to Chaitanya Baghel and his associates. Authorities are also examining whether the Baghel familyโs political influence facilitated the diversion of excise duty collections and other illicit activities.
Political Reactions
The raids have sparked political controversy, with Congress leaders and workers staging protests outside Bhupesh Baghelโs residence in Bhilai. They denounce the EDโs actions as a politically motivated attempt by the BJP-led central government to undermine the Congress partyโs activities, particularly in states like Punjab.
Pawan Khera, a national spokesperson for the Congress, remarked that the BJP is seeking distractions amid various challenges, suggesting that the raids are part of this strategy.
In response to the raids, Bhupesh Baghelโs office issued a statement highlighting that a similar false case had been dismissed in court recently. The statement questioned the timing of the EDโs action, implying a connection to the Congressโs political endeavors in Punjab.
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Context of the Investigation
The alleged liquor scam pertains to activities between 2019 and 2022, during which the Congress government, led by Bhupesh Baghel, was in power in Chhattisgarh. The EDโs investigation suggests that a liquor syndicate may have siphoned off substantial funds during this period, prompting the current probes into the financial dealings of individuals connected to the former Chief Minister.
As the investigation unfolds, the ED continues to examine various financial records and transactions to trace the flow of funds linked to the alleged scam. The political ramifications are significant, with both state and national leaders closely monitoring the situation. Further updates are anticipated as more information becomes available.
