The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Raipur Zonal Office, provisionally attached assets worth Rs 61.20 crore belonging to Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. This move is part of the ongoing investigation into the widespread Chhattisgarh liquor scam under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002, ED officials stated.
The attached assets comprise 364 pieces of residential plots and agricultural lands valued at Rs 59.96 crore, along with bank balances and fixed deposits worth Rs 1.24 crore.
The ED initiated the investigation based on FIRs registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau's Economic Offences Wing (ACB/EOW), Raipur, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The scam has already caused a massive loss to the State Exchequer, with illegal proceeds exceeding Rs 2,500 crore, according to the investigation.
"Investigation conducted under PMLA has revealed that Chaitanya Baghel, son of Bhupesh Baghel, was positioned at the apex of the liquor syndicate. His position as the Chief Minister's son made him the controller and ultimate authority of the liquor syndicate," the ED stated.
Maintained ‘hisab’, got proceeds of crime
Chaitanya Baghel was found responsible for maintaining the "hisab" (accounts) of all illicit funds collected by the syndicate, the enforcement agency alleged. All major decisions regarding the collection, channelisation, and distribution of these funds were taken under his direction, ED officials said.
The probe revealed that Chaitanya Baghel was a recipient of these proceeds of crime (POC), which he laundered through his real estate business. ED alleged that he used the scam-generated funds for his real estate project "Vitthal Green," which is operated under his proprietorship, M/s Baghel Developers. ED officials arrested Baghel on July 18, 2025, where he remains in judicial custody.
Earlier arrests in the case include former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Arvind Singh, Trilok Singh Dhillon, Anwar Dhebar, Arun Pati Tripathi (ITS), and former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma (MLA).
The latest Rs 61.20 crore asset attachment adds to the earlier property attachments in the case, valued at close to Rs 215 crore. Further investigations are ongoing, ED officials said.
