Daijiworld Media Network - Raipur
Raipur, Dec 23: Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, has been named as a key accused in the multi-crore liquor scam in the state, with the Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offence Wing (ACB/EOW) claiming he received Rs 200–250 crore as his share, according to the seventh supplementary chargesheet filed on Monday.
The voluminous chargesheet, running into nearly 3,800 pages, alleges that Chaitanya played a pivotal role in coordinating, establishing, and protecting an extortion syndicate within the state excise department during the Congress government’s tenure (2018–23). The scam is pegged at over Rs 3,000 crore, with investigations suggesting proceeds could exceed Rs 3,500 crore.
According to the ACB/EOW, Chaitanya acted as a link between administrative officials including Anil Tuteja, Soumya Chaurasia, Arunpati Tripathi, and Niranjan Das, and ground-level operatives such as Anwar Dhebar, Arvind Singh, and Vikas Agarwal. He allegedly managed the transfer of funds collected by the syndicate through businessman Anwar Dhebar, funnelling proceeds via firms owned by liquor businessman Trilok Singh Dhillon into family businesses and real estate projects.
“The evidence indicates that Chaitanya, while managing the proceeds at higher levels, received approximately Rs 200–250 crore as his share,” the chargesheet stated. It further highlighted that his influence and high-level protection allowed the syndicate to operate for a prolonged period.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also been probing the money laundering angle in the case. Chaitanya Baghel was arrested by the ED in July following searches at his residence in Bhilai, which he shares with his father. Earlier, the ED’s prosecution complaint alleged that he handled over Rs 1,000 crore of illicit proceeds generated from the liquor scam, which caused massive losses to the state exchequer.
The scam, as per investigations, was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022, during which illegal collections were reportedly made on every bottle of liquor sold in the state.
Several high-profile individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, including former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma, businessman Anwar Dhebar, former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, and ITS officer Arunpati Tripathi. The FIR, registered on January 17, 2024, names 70 individuals and companies, including former Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand.
Following his son’s arrest, Bhupesh Baghel alleged that probe agencies were being misused to target opposition leaders and claimed the action was politically motivated, related to the state government’s attempts to curb forest cutting and mining activities.
The investigation into the massive liquor scam continues, with the ACB/EOW and ED closely monitoring the movement of funds and the role of all accused in the syndicate.