Latest news with #ChaitnayaBaghel
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
ED arrests ex-Chhattisgarh CM Baghel's son in liquor ‘scam' case
Raipur: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested Chaitnaya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, in an alleged liquor scam linked money laundering case, official sources said. He was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after fresh raids were carried out at his home in Bhilai town in Durg district. The father-son duo reside at the same place. The sources said that Chaitnaya Baghel was arrested under section 19 of the anti-money laundering as he was allegedly not cooperating during the searches that came about following receipt of fresh evidence in the case. A heavy posse of police personnel was seen outside the house, even as some party supporters gathered. The senior Baghel said it was Chaitanya's birthday today. Bhupesh Baghel, a senior Congress leader, posted a message on X saying the ED has come to his home on the last day of the assembly session when the issue of trees being felled for a coal mine project of the Adani group in Tamnar tehsil of Raigarh district was to be raised. 'Today is the last day of the state legislative (monsoon) session. The issue of trees being felled for Adani in Tamnar was scheduled to be raised (in the House). Saheb has sent ED to Bhilai Niwas,' the message posted by his office said. The senior Baghel earlier this month visited the tehsil and extended support to local villagers who have been protesting against tree felling for a coal mine project in the area. The mine is allotted to Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MAHAGENCO), which has contracted the MDO (mine developer cum operator) to the Adani group. The federal probe agency conducted similar raids against Chaitanya Baghel on March 10. The ED earlier claimed that Chaitanya Baghel was suspected to be the 'recipient' of the proceeds from the alleged liquor scam. It has been said that the '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. In this case, the ED in January arrested former minister and Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma besides Anwar Dhebar, the elder brother of Raipur Mayor and Congress leader Aijaz Dhebar, former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer Arunpati Tripathi and some others as part of this investigation. The alleged liquor scam in the central Indian state, according to the ED, was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 when Chhattisgarh was governed by the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government. Assets worth about Rs 205 crore of various accused have been attached by the agency as part of this investigation so far. In 2024, the Supreme Court quashed the ED's first ECIR (FIR) in this case, which was based on a complaint from the Income Tax Department. The federal agency later filed a fresh case after it asked the Chhattisgarh EOW/ACB to file a fresh FIR against the accused based on material shared by the anti-money laundering agency.
News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
‘Won't Bow Down': Bhupesh Baghel's First Remark After Son's Arrest In ED Case
Last Updated: Chaitnaya Baghel was arrested under section 19 of the anti-money laundering as he was allegedly not cooperating during the searches Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday came down heavily on the BJP-led central government after his son Chaitanya Baghel was arrested in an alleged liquor scam-linked money laundering case. 'This strategy has been adopted to muzzle the opposition. They are now targeting my son… We will not get scared or bow down. Today, my son has been arrested on his birthday. Last year on my birthday, my advisor was targeted," the senior Congress leader said. Chaitanya Baghel Arrested In Liquor 'Scam' The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday took Chaitanya Baghel into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after fresh raids were carried out at his home in Bhilai town in Durg district. The father-son duo reside at the same place. Chaitnaya Baghel was arrested under section 19 of the anti-money laundering as he was allegedly not cooperating during the searches that came about following the receipt of fresh evidence in the case, news agency PTI reported, citing sources. The ED earlier claimed that Chaitanya Baghel was suspected to be the 'recipient" of the proceeds from the alleged liquor scam. It has been said that the '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. In this case, the ED in January arrested former minister and Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma besides Anwar Dhebar, the elder brother of Raipur Mayor and Congress leader Aijaz Dhebar, former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer Arunpati Tripathi and some others as part of this investigation. The alleged liquor scam in the central Indian state, according to the ED, was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 when Chhattisgarh was governed by the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government. Congress Boycotts Chhattisgarh Assembly Proceedings Over ED Action Congress MLAs on Friday boycotted the proceedings of the Chhattisgarh assembly for the day as a mark of protest against the Enforcement Directorate's action against former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel's son, and accused the central probe agency of trying to harass the opposition. Speaking in the House, Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant asked whether the government has been functioning as per the democratic system or not. 'The way ED has been carrying out raids…it is trying to put pressure on us and harass us and our family members. Our son (Chaitanya Baghel) has been picked up (by the ED) on his birthday," he said. 'We strongly oppose the move and we boycott the proceedings of the assembly," Mahant added. Friday is the last day of the ongoing monsoon session of the legislative assembly. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
