Relief for Baghel Family as HC Grants Bail to Chaitanya in Liquor Case
Chhattisgarh HC grants bail to Chaitanya Baghel.
The Chhattisgarh High Court, in a significant ruling on Friday, granted bail to Chaitanya Baghel—the son of former Chief Minister and prominent Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel—in connection with two distinct legal proceedings stemming from the alleged large-scale liquor scam that purportedly transpired during the Congress administration's tenure from 2019 to 2022 in the state.
The bail order covers both the money laundering investigation pursued by the Enforcement Directorate and the parallel corruption probe conducted by the Chhattisgarh Anti-Corruption Bureau and Economic Offences Wing, with representatives confirming that the detailed reasoning and conditions of release will become available once the formal court order is uploaded to official records.
Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel responded to the development by describing it as a resounding victory of truth over adversity, expressing profound relief at the court's decision and reiterating his longstanding contention that central and state agencies have been systematically employed to harass and intimidate opposition figures.
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Chaitanya Baghel's custody began with his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on July 18 of the previous year, primarily relying on evidentiary statements provided by Pappu Bansal—an accused individual currently listed as absconding—followed by an additional arrest on September 24 by the ACB/EOW while he remained in judicial detention for their separate inquiry into corruption charges.
Investigative agencies have alleged that the scam involved an elaborate syndicate ostensibly headed by Chaitanya Baghel, which systematically manipulated liquor distribution policies to generate illicit proceeds potentially surpassing Rs 3,500 crore, inflicting massive financial losses on the state exchequer while enriching designated beneficiaries through unauthorized commissions and kickbacks.
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