ED Takes Action Against Chhattisgarh Ex-CM’s Son
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has temporarily seized assets valued at ₹61.20 crore belonging to Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, as part of the ongoing investigation into the state’s liquor scam. The seized assets include 364 residential plots and agricultural land worth ₹59.96 crore, along with liquid assets such as bank balances and fixed deposits totaling ₹1.24 crore. These assets were confiscated under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
This recent seizure of ₹61.20 crore follows previous confiscations of real estate assets worth approximately ₹215 crore. The ED’s Chhattisgarh zonal office executed the seizure on November 10, as part of an investigation initiated based on FIRs filed by the state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau and Economic Offenses Wing under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, related to the liquor scam.
According to a statement from the agency, police investigations revealed that the liquor scam had caused significant financial losses to the state treasury, with beneficiaries pocketing over ₹2,500 crore in proceeds of crime (POC) generated from scheduled offences. The ED stated, “Investigations under the PMLA revealed that Chaitanya Baghel was at the helm of the liquor syndicate. Being the son of the Chief Minister, he was positioned as the controller and chief authority of the syndicate. He was responsible for keeping track of all the illegal funds collected by the syndicate, and all major decisions regarding the collection, channelization, and distribution of such funds were made under his directives.”
The ED’s investigation also uncovered that Chaitanya received proceeds of crime (POC) from the illicit activities, which he integrated into his real estate business, presenting them as legitimate assets. He utilized the POC derived from the liquor scam for the development of his real estate project ‘Vithal Green’ under his company, Messrs Baghel Developers.
