A special PMLA court in Raipur has rejected the bail plea of Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, declaring the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) investigation into the Rs 2,000-crore liquor scam to be at a “crucial and sensitive stage.” The 32-year-old remains in judicial custody since his arrest on July 18, with the court emphasizing the risk of evidence tampering and witness influence.
The ED’s 1,200-page prosecution complaint, filed on September 12, accuses Chaitanya Baghel of being a central figure in a sophisticated money-laundering network. Investigators claim he operated through 14 shell companies registered in Raipur, Delhi, and Kolkata, routing Rs 216 crore in illicit liquor proceeds. Bank records reveal layered transactions—funds moved from excise-linked firms to real estate entities in Naya Raipur, where luxury apartments and commercial plots were purchased in benami names.
Digital forensics recovered from seized devices allegedly show WhatsApp chats between Chaitanya Baghel and Anwar Dhebar, a key accused and former president of the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation (Liquor). Messages reference “commission percentages” and “safe routes” for cash movement. The ED has also secured CCTV footage from a Raipur hotel showing cash handovers in 2021.
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The scam’s architecture, per the ED, involved a 2%–5% syndicate commission on every liquor bottle sold in the state. Between 2019 and 2022, over 1.8 crore cases of liquor were allegedly sold above MRP through manipulated quotas, generating Rs 2,161 crore in black income. A portion—Rs 480 crore—was reportedly siphoned to fund political activities and personal investments.
The agency has arrested 18 individuals so far, including former excise minister T.S. Singh Deo’s close aide, a retired IAS officer, and three liquor distributors. Raids across 42 locations yielded Rs 12 crore in cash, 2.1 kg gold, and property documents worth Rs 380 crore.
In court, Baghel’s counsel argued prolonged detention violated Article 21 rights and cited the Supreme Court’s Arnab Goswami precedent on personal liberty. The ED countered with a 2023 Chhattisgarh High Court order allowing custodial interrogation beyond 15 days in complex PMLA cases. The case has triggered a political firestorm. BJP state president Kiran Dev accused the Congress of institutionalizing corruption, while Bhupesh Baghel held a press conference in Delhi, terming the probe “ED’s election drama.” Congress has moved the Supreme Court challenging the PMLA court’s jurisdiction.
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