Latest news with #BhupeshBaghel
India Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Chhattisgarh liquor scam
IT'S THE GIANT-SLAYING phase, it seems, for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), after a long hunt for peripheral players. The latest arrest in what they're calling Chhattisgarh's own 'liquor scam': Chaitanya Baghel. The charges: acts linked to the sale of non-excise-paid liquor in 2019-22, when his father Bhupesh Baghel was CM. Besides causing a loss of Rs 2,200-odd crore to the exchequer, the ED alleges, Chaitanya's construction business netted in bribe money from liquor barons. In January, the ED had crested its previous peak in the case by arresting then excise minister Kawasi Lakhma, a Congress tribal MLA.
United News of India
23-07-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
SC refuses to entertain Baghel's plea against nephew's election petition
New Delhi, Jul 22 (UNI) The Supreme Court today refused to entertain a plea by former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel challenging an election petition filed against him by his nephew and BJP leader Vijay Baghel, which alleged violation of the mandated silence period norms during the 2023 Assembly elections. A Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi dismissed the petition as withdrawn while granting Baghel liberty to approach the High Court-cum-Election Tribunal to raise the issue of maintainability as a preliminary issue. 'If such an application is filed, the High Court is requested to decide it after giving an opportunity of being heard to the other side and before proceeding on merits. Observations made in the said order shall have no bearing on the application sought to be moved,' the Bench clarified. Baghel had approached the apex court against the Chhattisgarh High Court's dismissal of his application filed under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC seeking rejection of Vijay Baghel's election petition. Appearing for Baghel, Senior Advocate Vivek Tankha, along with Advocate Sumeer Sodhi, argued that breach of silence period norms does not amount to 'corrupt practice' under election law and hence, the election petition was not maintainable. However, the Bench suggested that the issue be raised before the High Court-cum-Election Tribunal. In the 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, Bhupesh Baghel (Indian National Congress) and Vijay Baghel (Bharatiya Janata Party) contested against each other from the Patan constituency, with Bhupesh Baghel emerging victorious. Subsequently, Vijay Baghel filed an election petition alleging corrupt practices, including violation of the 48-hour silence period mandated under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act. It was claimed that Bhupesh Baghel organised a rally or roadshow during the silence period, where slogans were raised in his favour. This was allegedly video-graphed and photographed by Vijay Baghel's election agent. In his defence, Bhupesh Baghel contended that the election petition was vague and did not disclose any triable cause of action. Upon dismissal of his application by the High Court, he approached the Supreme Court, which today declined to interfere. UNI SNG SSP
Economic Times
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
SC allows Chhattisgarh's ex-CM Bhupesh Baghel to move HC over maintainability of plea against him
The Chhattisgarh Congress has announced a statewide chakka jam on July 22 in protest against the arrest of Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Synopsis The Supreme Court has granted Bhupesh Baghel, former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, the opportunity to appeal to the High Court regarding a petition filed by his nephew, Vijay Baghel. The petition alleges violations of the Representation of the Peoples Act during the election. The court has directed the High Court to consider the application after hearing both sides. The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel to move the high court over a petition filed against him by his nephew Vijay Baghel. ADVERTISEMENT A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said if such an application is filed, the high court is requested to decide the same after giving opportunity of hearing to the other side before it further proceeds on merits of the case. Allowing Baghel's counsel to withdraw the plea and move "high court-cum-election tribunal", the bench said, "It goes without saying that the observations made in the impugned order shall have no bearing on the merits of the application proposed to be moved on behalf of the petitioner." Senior advocate Vivek Tankha and advocate Sumeer Sodhi, appearing for Baghel, said breach of silence period did not amount to corrupt practice and hence the case was not maintainable. The petition was filed by BJP MP Vijay Baghel who unsuccessfully contested the assembly elections against Bhupesh Baghel from the Patan seat. Vijay said Bhupesh violated the provision of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951 by taking out a procession after 5 pm in Patan constituency. He sought nullification of the former CM's election and barring him from contesting polls for six years. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online. NEXT STORY
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP slams Congress' economic blockade as ‘leader-centric drama'; sparks fierce political row in Chhattisgarh
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh's political landscape turned sharply confrontational on Tuesday as the Congress staged a statewide two-hour economic blockade to protest the Enforcement Directorate's arrest of Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. While the Congress described the protest as a stand against the political misuse of central agencies, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit back, calling it a desperate and leader-centric stunt aimed solely at protecting one family. State Finance Minister OP Choudhary escalated the attack, accusing Congress of hypocrisy and demanding explanations for decisions taken during Bhupesh Baghel's tenure on the coal mining project, which the latter had been objecting over. He cited a series of approvals granted by the Congress government for coal block project, including public hearings and forest clearances, questioning how the same party now protests against those developments. Congress protest held from 12 to 2 PM, attempted to block the movement of goods and commercial vehicles across the state. Emergency services such as ambulances and fire brigades were exempted. However, the Chhattisgarh Chamber of Commerce refused to support the agitation, citing the disruption it could cause to businesses. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar questioned the motives behind the selective outrage. He asked why similar demonstrations were not held when other Congress leaders like Devendra Yadav or former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma faced action. He claimed the blockade only underscored that Congress had become a party centered around one individual, lacking ideological consistency or concern for the public. He also criticised the Congress for misusing the Assembly platform, pointing out that the opposition boycotted three of the five days of the recent monsoon session, despite claiming to stand for public issues. Congress, however, hit back sharply and former MLA and senior leader Vikas Upadhyay accused the BJP of weaponizing federal agencies like the ED, CBI, and Income Tax Department to harass the opposition. He argued that any political force resisting the BJP's ideology faces raids, arrests, or fabricated cases. Upadhyay defended Baghel's five-year term as one of historic governance focused on farmers and the poor. With Chaitanya Baghel now in jail for 14 days as per the court orders on Tuesday, the arrest has deepened the already sharp political divide in Chhattisgarh. The BJP maintains that the investigation is being conducted lawfully, while Congress insists it is a part of a larger vendetta campaign. Chaitanya was arrested by ED on July 18 after a search at his residence in Bhilai and was produced at special PMLA court in Raipur for his alleged involvement in multi-crore liquor scam case. He was given a five-day ED remand and was on Tuesday sent to jail for 14 days.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Former CM Bhupesh Baghel's son Chaitanya sent to judicial custody in Chhattisgarh liquor scam case
RAIPUR : The special PMLA court on Tuesday remanded Chaitanya Baghel—son of senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel—to 14 days of judicial custody in a money laundering case linked to the alleged multi-crore liquor scam. Chaitanya, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 18 following searches at his residence in Bhilai (which he shares with his father), was presented before the court of additional district and sessions Judge Damarudhar Chouhan upon the expiry of his five-day long ED custody. Saurabh Kumar Pande, the ED counsel, told reporters that during his remand, Chaitanya was questioned extensively and confronted with various documents and statements. 'He was confronted and conceded at many points. Since no significant questioning remained, the agency requested the court to place him in judicial custody,' Pande said. The court agreed and sent Chaitanya to jail till August 4. If needed, further questioning can be undertaken with court permission, he added. The ED has accused Chaitanya of 'handling' more than Rs 1,000 crore of illicit funds generated through the alleged liquor syndicate. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She Took 1 Teaspoon Before Bed – Her Belly Was Gone in a Week Hollywood News | USA Click Here Undo According to the agency, Rs 16.7 crore of this 'proceeds of crime' was used to develop a real estate project under his firms. 'Chaitanya Baghel was in receipt of proceeds of crime worth Rs 16.70 crore. These funds were intermingled with his real estate ventures and directly utilised in project development,' the agency stated. Chaitanya's counsel Faizal Rizvi told reporters that it's the first time that the arrest has been made without summon under Section 50 of PMLA and without 'listening' to him. Since 2016 ED has been active in this state but it's the first example a person has been arrested without notice. 'We know the condition of jails in this state, hence, we have applied for Chaitanya's security inside jail,' Rizvi said. Bhupesh Baghel , reacting to his son's arrest, accused the central government of using investigative agencies to target opposition leaders. He maintained, however, that he had faith in the judiciary and would fully cooperate. The former CM alleged that the timing of the ED action was deliberate—aimed at deflecting attention from the 'illegal tree felling' for coal mining projects, an issue Congress was set to raise in the state assembly last week. The ED claims the alleged liquor scam caused a 'massive loss' to the state exchequer while lining the pockets of beneficiaries within an illegal liquor syndicate to the tune of over Rs 2,500 crore. The financial irregularities were allegedly carried out between 2019 and 2022 during the Congress-led government under Bhupesh Baghel. In January, the ED arrested several high-profile figures in connection with the same case. These include former Excise Minister and Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma, liquor businessman Anwar Dhebar, former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Indian Telecom Service officer Arunpati Tripathi, and others. The case was originally registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW)/Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on January 17, 2024—about a month after the BJP returned to power in the state, defeating the Congress in the 2023 Assembly elections. The FIR named 70 individuals and companies, including Lakhma and former Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand. With the matter now in court and Chaitanya Baghel in judicial custody, the case is poised to remain a focal point in Chhattisgarh's heated political discourse—one that could have serious implications for the opposition's credibility and the BJP government's anti-corruption narrative.
