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New Indian Express
04-08-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Chhattisgarh liquor scam: Chaitanya Baghel's judicial remand extended till August 18
RAIPUR: The judicial remand of Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, has been extended by another 14 days by the special PMLA court in Raipur in connection with the ongoing probe linked to multi-crore liquor scam case. Chaitanya, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 18 from his Bhilai residence, was produced before the court upon the expiry of his initial 14-day remand. Chaitanya's counsel, Faisal Rizvi, stated, "The ED sought another routine 14-day judicial remand, which the court granted, extending custody till August 18. The court also directed the agency to file a charge sheet within seven days." The ED's remand document alleges Chaitanya's key role in laundering over Rs 1,000 crore linked to the excise scam, with a portion allegedly funneled into his real estate project, 'Vitthal Green', under Baghel Developers. The agency claims investigation reveals Rs 16.70 crore of scam proceeds were laundered through his real-estate ventures 'Vitthal Green' under Baghel Developers. Meanwhile, Bhupesh Baghel, now an MLA from Patan, accused the Centre of misusing agencies to target opposition leaders. Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court, hearing a petition by Baghel and his son seeking protection from coercive action in multiple money laundering cases, directed them to approach the Chhattisgarh High Court for interim relief. The cases, involving alleged scams, are being probed by the ED, CBI, and state police.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Baghel's son laundered Rs 16.7 crore through shell firms: ED to court
RAIPUR: ED informed a special court that former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel's son Chaitanya Baghel laundered Rs 16.7 crore through shell firms and under-invoiced real estate deals tied to a Rs 2,100 crore liquor scam. Chaitanya was arrested under Prevention of Money Laundering Act on July 18 (his 38th birthday) following searches at his home. A PMLA court in Raipur granted five days' remand. Congress functionaries responded to this with a call for statewide 'Aarthik Nakabandi' on July 22. It has planned road blockades, protests, and mineral transport disruption across Chhattisgarh. The protest aligns with the final day of Chaitanya's ED custody and his scheduled production before a PMLA court. According to ED's remand report, Chaitanya played a 'central and active role' in laundering illegal proceeds from a liquor syndicate that allegedly manipulated Chhattisgarh's excise system from 2019 to 2022. One transaction flagged involved Rs 5 crore funnelled from Saheli Jewellers into a project, Vitthal Green, by Baghel Developers. While project costs were officially declared as Rs 7.14 crore, ED estimates actual expenditure between Rs 13 crore and Rs 15 crore — mostly in cash. Key witness Pappu Bansal told ED that only Rs 2.62 crore was recorded in payments to the contractor, while Rs 4.2 crore was allegedly paid off the books. On Oct 19, 2020, liquor businessman Trilok Singh Dhillon allegedly paid Rs 5 crore for 19 flats in the same project under employee names. CM Vishnu Deo Sai defended ED's actions. 'ED doesn't act randomly. It knows what it's doing,' he said Saturday. While ex-CM Baghel accused the Centre of vendetta politics. 'They raided me during Budget session. Now, after Mahant's adjournment notice on Hasdeo forest felling, they've targeted my son,' he said. 'I won't break. Let them jail him — he's strong.' Baghel alleged a 'selective pattern' of enforcement: 'Nothing happens to Himanta Biswa Sarma, or Suvendu Adhikari, or Ajit Pawar. Those who bow walk free.' Ex-CM's son arrested to bury the truth, crush people's voice, says Priyanka Congress' Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday claimed that as former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel was about to raise the issue of govt 'gifting' all the state's forests to industrialist Adani in the assembly, govt arrested his son to pressure him to bury the truth. The public has understood that these tactics under BJP are aimed at crushing the voice of people but it will not succeed, she said. 'The forests are being destroyed in defiance of PESA Act and NGT directives. Baghel was going to raise the issue in the assembly. To stop him, ED raided his house early in the morning and arrested his son. In past 11 years, the country has understood well that these are methods to suppress opposition. But every Congress worker stands firmly with Baghel,' Priyanka said.
