Tensions flared in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district on Monday evening as protesters pelted stones at Enforcement Directorate (ED) vehicles departing from the residence of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The attack followed an ED raid linked to a money laundering probe involving Baghel’s son, Chaitanya, in an alleged liquor scam case. The incident damaged a vehicle’s windowpane, prompting police to promise action after receiving a verbal complaint from ED officials.

The ED launched its operation early Monday, targeting Baghel’s home in Padum Nagar, Bhilai, as part of an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The raid focused on Chaitanya Baghel, suspected of receiving proceeds from the liquor scam, and extended to properties of his alleged associate, Laxmi Narayan Bansal, alias Pappu Bansal, among others. Bhupesh Baghel, a prominent Congress leader who led Chhattisgarh from 2018 to 2023, shares the Bhilai residence with his son, bringing the senior politician into the spotlight of the probe.

As news of the raid spread, Congress workers and leaders rallied outside the Baghel residence, staging a vociferous protest against the ED’s actions. The situation escalated when ED personnel, accompanied by security, attempted to leave in two vehicles. Visuals captured protesters surrounding the cars, climbing onto bonnets, and hurling stones, leading to a brief scuffle with police. Durg Superintendent of Police Jitendra Shukla confirmed the incident and stated that a case would be registered, with further steps to follow.

The raid and subsequent violence highlight the political friction surrounding the investigation, which the Congress has decried as targeted harassment. The ED has yet to release detailed findings, but the clash underscores the volatile atmosphere as the agency digs into alleged financial irregularities tied to the liquor scam. Authorities are now bracing for potential fallout as the probe continues.