ED arrests former Chhattisgarh CM Baghel’ son in alleged liquor scam
Continuing to hit headlines, the Enforcement Directorate today arrested former Chhattisgarh Congress Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s son, Chaitanya Baghel, from his residence in Bhilai town in Durg district.
Chaitanya was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following fresh raids at his home, where he resides with his father.
Earlier this week, the ED had filed chargesheet against Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s husband Robert Vadra holding him as an accused in cases of immovable properties.
While Baghel said central agencies were being misused to target opposition leaders, Robert Vadra too said that it was an extension of political witch-hunting.
The Congress leader said, "To please their master, PM Modi and Amit Shah have sent the ED to my house. We won't be scared or bow down. Bhupesh Baghel won't be afraid. We will fight the battle of truth."
“On the one hand, in Bihar, voters are being removed (from the voters list) with the help of the Election Commission...democracy is being stripped, and on the other hand, they are misusing the ED, IT, CBI, DRI to suppress opposition leaders. But now, people of the country have understood and are well aware," he told reporters outside his Bhilai residence.
The Congress leader said, "The ED had come in the past as well and raided my place and found Rs 33 lakh in my house. Now they have come again. What does this mean? We will fully cooperate, whether they trust or not, we believe in democracy and the judiciary. They (BJP) are misusing the agency, but we will cooperate with them."
He further questioned the timing of the raid, which coincided with Chaitanya's birthday.
"Nobody in any democracy in the world can give a birthday gift like the one Modi and Shah have given. On my birthday, both the most respected leaders sent the ED to the houses of my advisor and two OSDs. And now, on my son Chaitanya's birthday, an ED team is raiding my house. Thanks for these gifts. I will remember them for life," he said.
Chaitanya was produced in a special court in Raipur.
"You all are aware that Adani wanted to do mining and cut forest, and the Congress party has been creating obstacles in this. The action is being taken due to this", Baghel said in court premises talking to reporters.
Baghel and Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant reached the court premises after boycotting the state Assembly proceedings, alleging that the central probe agency has been trying to harass the opposition leaders and their family members.
Earlier, the ED had arrested Chaitanya. A heavy posse of police personnel was seen outside the house, even as some party supporters gathered.
Sources said a special PMLA court sent Chaitanya to ED custody for five days.
The senior Baghel, earlier this month, visited the tehsil and extended support to local villagers who have been protesting against tree-felling for a coal mine project in the area. The mine is allotted to Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MAHAGENCO), which has contracted the MDO (mine developer cum operator) to the Adani group.
The former chief minister said central agencies were being misused to target opposition leaders, but he trusted the judiciary and would cooperate with them.
Congress MLAs also boycotted the proceedings of the Chhattisgarh Assembly for the day as a mark of protest against the arrest and accused the agency of trying to harass the opposition.
The ED’s record in getting accused finally convicted is very dismal and disappointing. “In the last ten years, as many as 193 cases against politicians have been registered by the ED in which only two convictions have been made," Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary had informed the Rajya Sabha in March 25. Of the total cases, 138 - or 71% - have been registered in the past five years (since 2019) after the BJP came to power for a second term.
