Latest news with #Chaitanya
Time of India
2 hours ago
- 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.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Bhupesh Baghel's Son Sent To 14-Day Judicial Custody In Liquor Scam Case
Raipur: A special court here on Tuesday remanded Chaitanya Baghel, son of senior Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, in a 14-day judicial custody in a money laundering case linked to the alleged liquor scam. Chaitanya was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 18 following a search at his house which he shares with his father in Bhilai town of Durg district in the state. The accused was produced before the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (VI) Damarudhar Chouhan on Tuesday on expiry of his ED custody, the central probe agency's counsel Saurabh Kumar Pande told reporters. During his custodial remand, Chaitanya was interrogated and confronted with statements and documents during which he conceded at many points. There was not much left for interrogation so the ED requested the court for his judicial custody, he said. The court sent him to jail in judicial custody till August 4, he added. If required, he can be questioned by the agency with the court's permission, he said. The ED claimed in a statement that Chaitanya "handled" more than Rs 1,000 crore worth of "proceeds of crime" generated from a liquor "scam" in the state and used Rs 16.7 crore for the development of his real estate project. "Chaitanya was in receipt of proceeds of crime worth Rs 16.70 crore. He had used his real estate firms to intermingle the said funds. It was found that he had utilised the said cash amount (proceeds of crime) in development of his real estate project," it said. His father Bhupesh Baghel has alleged that central agencies were being misused to target the opposition leaders, but stressed that he trusted the judiciary and would cooperate. The former CM has alleged that the ED action against his son was initiated to divert attention from the "illegal tree felling" for coal mines in the state as the Congress was set to raise the issue in the state assembly last week. The Congress on Tuesday staged "chakka jam" (road blockade) in different parts of the state to protest against the ED's action. The ED has said that the alleged scam resulted in a "massive loss" to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate with over Rs 2,100 crore. The "scam" in the state, according to the ED, was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 when Chhattisgarh was governed by the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government. In January, the ED arrested former minister and Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma, besides Anwar Dhebar, former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer Arunpati Tripathi and some others as part of their investigations in the case. The EOW/ACB registered the FIR on January 17 last year, about a month after the BJP defeated the Congress in the 2023 assembly polls, and named 70 individuals and companies, including former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma and former chief secretary Vivek Dhand. According to the ED, the alleged commission generated through the illegal sale of liquor was shared "as per the directions from the highest political executives of the state".
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Court sends Chaitanya Baghel, son of ex-Chhattisgarh CM, to judicial custody in liquor 'scam'
A special court in Raipur on Tuesday (July 22, 2025) remanded Chaitanya Baghel, son of senior Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, in a 14-day judicial custody in a money laundering case linked to the alleged liquor scam. Mr. Chaitanya was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 18 following a search at his house which he shares with his father in Bhilai town of Durg district in the State. The accused was produced before the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (VI) Damarudhar Chouhan on Tuesday on expiry of his ED custody, the central probe agency's counsel Saurabh Kumar Pande told reporters. During his custodial remand, Mr. Chaitanya was interrogated and confronted with statements and documents during which he conceded at many points. There was not much left for interrogation so the ED requested the court for his judicial custody, he said. The court sent him to jail in judicial custody till August 4, he added. If required, he can be questioned by the agency with the court's permission, he said. The ED claimed in a statement that Chaitanya "handled" more than ₹1,000 crore worth of "proceeds of crime" generated from a liquor "scam" in the State and used ₹16.7 crore for the development of his real estate project. "Chaitanya was in receipt of proceeds of crime worth Rs 16.70 crore. He had used his real estate firms to intermingle the said funds. It was found that he had utilised the said cash amount (proceeds of crime) in development of his real estate project," it said. His father Bhupesh Baghel has alleged that central agencies were being misused to target the opposition leaders, but stressed that he trusted the judiciary and would cooperate. The former CM has alleged that the ED action against his son was initiated to divert attention from the "illegal tree felling" for coal mines in the state as the Congress was set to raise the issue in the state assembly last week. The Congress on Tuesday staged "chakka jam" (road blockade) in different parts of the state to protest against the ED's action. The ED has said that the alleged scam resulted in a "massive loss" to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate with over ₹2,100 crore. The "scam" in the state, according to the ED, was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 when Chhattisgarh was governed by the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government. In January, the ED arrested former Minister and Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma, besides Anwar Dhebar, former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer Arunpati Tripathi and some others as part of their investigations in the case. The EOW/ACB registered the FIR on January 17 last year, about a month after the BJP defeated the Congress in the 2023 assembly polls, and named 70 individuals and companies, including former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma and former chief secretary Vivek Dhand. According to the ED, the alleged commission generated through the illegal sale of liquor was shared "as per the directions from the highest political executives of the State".
New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Court sends Chaitanya Baghel, son of ex-Chhattisgarh CM, to judicial custody in liquor 'scam' case
RAIPUR: A special court here on Tuesday remanded Chaitanya Baghel, son of senior Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, in a 14-day judicial custody in a money laundering case linked to the alleged liquor scam. Chaitanya was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 18 following a search at his house which he shares with his father in Bhilai town of Durg district in the state. The accused was produced before the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (VI) Damarudhar Chouhan on Tuesday on expiry of his ED custody, the central probe agency's counsel Saurabh Kumar Pande told reporters. During his custodial remand, Chaitanya was interrogated and confronted with statements and documents during which he conceded at many points. There was not much left for interrogation so the ED requested the court for his judicial custody, he said. The court sent him to jail in judicial custody till August 4, he added. If required, he can be questioned by the agency with the court's permission, he said. The ED claimed in a statement that Chaitanya "handled" more than Rs 1,000 crore worth of "proceeds of crime" generated from a liquor "scam" in the state and used Rs 16.7 crore for the development of his real estate project.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel's son sent to 14-day judicial custody over alleged liquor scam
Chaitanya Baghel , the son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Bhagel, was sent to 14-day judicial custody by a court in Raipur in liquor 'scam' case on Tuesday. The Enforcement Directorate alleges that Chaitanaya "handled" more than Rs 1,000 crore worth of " proceeds of crime " generated from a liquor "scam" in the state and used Rs 16.7 crore for the development of his real estate project. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Operations Management Project Management Product Management Degree PGDM Finance MCA Leadership Digital Marketing Data Science Design Thinking healthcare Public Policy Artificial Intelligence Management MBA Data Analytics Data Science CXO Others Technology others Skills you'll gain: Quality Management & Lean Six Sigma Analytical Tools Supply Chain Management & Strategies Service Operations Management Duration: 10 Months IIM Lucknow IIML Executive Programme in Strategic Operations Management & Supply Chain Analytics Starts on Jan 27, 2024 Get Details Chaitanya, who is a businessman, was arrested by the agency on his 38th birthday on July 18 from his residence in Bhilai's Mansarovar Colony on July 18, his 38th birthday. The arrest came after the agency raided the house, which Chaitanya shares with his father. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like JEE 2025 Toppers Guided by Narayana Narayana Group Read More Undo He was sent to ED custody for five days on the same day before being produced to the court today. "Chaitanya Baghel was in receipt of proceeds of crime worth Rs 16.70 crore. He had used his real estate firms to intermingle the said funds. Live Events "It was found that he had utilised the said cash amount (proceeds of crime) in development of his real estate project," the agency claimed in a statement. Bhupesh Baghel , a senior Congress leader, alleged that central agencies were being misused to target opposition leaders, but added that he trusted the judiciary and would cooperate with them. On Monday, the former CM said that the ED action against his son was initiated to divert attention from the "illegal tree felling" in the state as the Congress was set to raise the issue in the Assembly. The ED statement alleged that the use of proceeds was designed by way of "payment in cash" to contractors of Chaitanya's project, bank entries against cash, etc. The agency said the junior Baghel "colluded" with a local businessman named Trilok Singh Dhillon and "utilised" his companies to devise a scheme under which he "indirectly" received Rs 5 crore in the guise of purchase of flats in his "Vitthalpuram Project" in the name of employees of Dhillon. "There is banking trail which indicates that during the relevant period of transactions, Trilok Singh Dhillon received payments from the liquor syndicate in his bank accounts," the ED said. Further, the ED alleged that Chaitanya "handled" more than Rs 1,000 crore worth of "proceeds of crime" generated out of the liquor scam . "He used to coordinate with Anwar Dhebar (the elder brother of Raipur Mayor and Congress leader Aijaz Dhebar) and others for transfer of proceeds of crime to the then treasurer of the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee." "Investigation conducted by ED has revealed that the funds out of this liquor scam were also handed over to key associates of Baghel family for further investments. The end utilisation of this fund is being probed further," it said. The agency said that the alleged scam has paved way to a "massive loss" to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate with over Rs 2,100 crore. According to ED, the alleged scam was done between 2019 and 2022 when Chhattisgarh was governed by the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government. The ED in January arrested former minister and Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma, besides Anwar Dhebar, former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer Arunpati Tripathi and some others as part of their investigations in the case. An FIR was registered by the EOW/ACB on January 17 last year, about a month after the BJP defeated the incumbent Congress government in the 2023 assembly polls, and named 70 individuals and companies, including former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma and former chief secretary Vivek Dhand. According to the ED, the alleged commission generated through the illegal sale of liquor was shared "as per the directions from the highest political executives of the state".
