Arvind Gunasekar 
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Monday (March 10) conducted searches at the premises of Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, in connection with an alleged liquor scam and money laundering case
Around 14 locations including the premises of Baghel’s associates were raised by the agency in Chhattisgarh.
Responding to the searches by the central agency, former Bhupesh Baghel in a post on X said, “When the false case that had been ongoing for seven years was dismissed by the court, today, ED guests entered the residence of former Chief Minister and Congress General Secretary Bhupesh Baghel in Bhilai this morning. If anyone is attempting to stop Congress in Punjab through this conspiracy, it is a misunderstanding.”
Taking cognisance of FIRs registered by Chhattisgarh Police over the alleged illegal sale of liquor in the state during the Baghel government’s tenure, ED initiated a probe into the money laundering case.
It was alleged that liquor was sold off books in retail outlets, resulting in a loss to the state exchequer. The money was allegedly routed to politicians and bureaucrats of the state.
ED had earlier pegged that the scam was worth over Rs 2,000 crore.