Bhupesh Baghel's Son Handled Rs 1000-Crore Of 'Liquor Scam' Proceeds: Probe Agency
Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, was at the helm of the syndicate behind the "liquor scam" in Chhattisgarh and personally handled nearly Rs 1,000 crore generated from it, the ED has alleged
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Chaitanya Baghel was taken into custody by the central agency on July 18. (File)
Raipur:
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged in its prosecution complaint that Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, led the syndicate behind the "liquor scam" in Chhattisgarh and personally managed approximately Rs 1,000 crore generated from the operation.
According to the ED, Chaitanya deliberately aided in hiding, possessing, acquiring, and utilizing proceeds of crime, working in collaboration with other syndicate members.
These allegations were made in the fourth supplementary prosecution complaint (charge sheet) submitted before District and Additional Sessions Judge (IV) Damarudhar Chouhan on Monday.
Chaitanya Baghel was apprehended by the central agency on July 18 after a search at his residence in Bhilai town of Durg district, which he shares with his father.
The alleged Rs 2,500 crore liquor scam reportedly occurred between 2019 and 2022 during the Congress government led by Bhupesh Baghel.
To date, the ED has filed one primary prosecution complaint and four supplementary ones in this case, claiming the alleged scam caused "massive loss" to the state treasury while enriching liquor syndicate beneficiaries.
In the latest filing, the ED stated that an organized liquor syndicate was established in 2019 after the Congress government came to power in Chhattisgarh.
The complaint alleges that Anil Tuteja, then an IAS officer, and businessman Anwar Dhebar (both previously named as accused) were appointed to manage daily operations of this syndicate.
"Chaitanya stood at the apex of this syndicate with a role that was commanding and decisive rather than merely symbolic. He maintained 'hisab' (accounts) of all illicit funds collected by the syndicate. All major decisions regarding collection, channelization, and distribution of funds were executed under his instructions. His position as the chief minister's son made him the controller and ultimate authority of the syndicate," the complaint alleged.
The ED claimed Chaitanya received "proceeds of crime," which he integrated into his real estate project and is now presenting as legitimate property.
The investigation has indicated that a significant portion of the criminal proceeds was collected by one Laxmi Narayan Bansal @ Pappu, who revealed in his statement to the ED that he handled over Rs 1,000 crore of proceeds from the liquor scam in collaboration with Chaitanya.
Bansal reportedly stated that, following Chaitanya's instructions, substantial cash amounts were delivered to the then state Congress unit treasurer, Ram Gopal Agrawal, and others between 2019 and 2022.
According to the ED, Bansal allegedly collected these illegal funds from Anwar Dhebar through Dipen Chawda, and subsequently delivered them to Agarwal in coordination with Chaitanya.
"During his statement, Bansal revealed he has known Bhupesh Baghel for 25 years and they share family relations. He regularly visited the Chief Minister's House in Raipur, often with Chaitanya. During one such visit, Bhupesh Baghel explicitly told him that Anwar Dhebar would send some 'saamaan' to him, which was to be forwarded to Agrawal," the ED stated.
"Subsequently, Chaitanya Baghel would inform him a day before the scheduled cash delivery from Dhebar. He clarified that 'saamaan' was code for cash," the agency added.
Agrawal is currently evading authorities.
"Chaitanya was the central figure and controller of the liquor syndicate, exercising direct command over its finances, supervising the flow of illegal funds, and utilizing the proceeds of crime for personal and business ventures," the ED alleged.
The agency claimed Chaitanya Baghel utilized criminal proceeds amounting to Rs 18.90 crore in his real estate project, Vitthal Green, and Rs 3.10 crore in his firm M/s Baghel Developers and Associates.
The investigation has also uncovered crucial digital evidence in WhatsApp chats recovered from the accused persons' mobile phones.
These chats allegedly show Chaitanya actively coordinating with Dhebar and Saumya Chaurasia, then deputy secretary at the CM office, regarding account settlements, meeting arrangements, and fund transfers.
The state's Economic Offence Wing (EOW)/Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) filed an FIR on January 17 last year concerning the "liquor scam," approximately one month after the BJP defeated Congress in the assembly elections, naming 70 individuals and companies, including former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma and ex-chief secretary Vivek Dhand.
According to the ED, the syndicate not only collected commission on the sale of accounted and official liquor and unaccounted illegal liquor but also charged bribes from main distillers to operate in Chhattisgarh, enabling them to form a cartel and divide the market share among themselves.
The investigation suggests all proceeds of crime were being collected and appropriated by then officials and those in charge of the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee, the ED alleged.
In January, the ED arrested Lakhma, along with Dhebar, Tuteja, Indian Telecom Service officer Arunpati Tripathi, and others as part of its investigation into the case.