Chaitanya Baghel termed his detention a result of “vindictive action” and political vendetta. “This was a targeted move against me. I thank the court for recognizing the truth,” he said. Bhupesh Baghel echoed his son’s sentiments, alleging misuse of investigative agencies. “ED, IT, and EOW were employed with political intent, but today the misuse has been exposed,” he told reporters. He added that Chaitanya’s release coincided with his birthday, a day that had earlier been marred by his arrest by the ED.
Chaitanya Baghel was initially arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in July last year in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the Chhattisgarh liquor scam. In September, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)/EOW also booked him in a corruption case while he was already in custody. According to agencies, the alleged scam, spanning 2019 to 2022, caused significant loss to the state exchequer, with Chaitanya accused of overseeing financial transactions worth approximately ₹1,000 crore.
The High Court granted Chaitanya interim bail against bonds of ₹2 lakh in the EOW case and ₹1 lakh in the ED matter. His lawyer, Faizal Rizvi, stated that the arrest was based on coerced statements, and there was no evidence of Chaitanya personally benefiting from the alleged scam. “The investigation was selective. He cooperated fully, yet was arrested solely because he is the former CM’s son,” Rizvi said.
The Chhattisgarh liquor scam reportedly involved politicians, bureaucrats, and businesspersons. The scam was categorized into three segments: A) collecting commission from distilleries, B) distributing counterfeit hologram-labeled liquor in government outlets, and C) manipulating supply zones to extract illegal gains. High Court also criticized law enforcement for failing to arrest co-accused Laxmi Narayan Bansal, highlighting lapses in investigation protocols.
As celebrations continue, the release of Chaitanya Baghel is likely to keep the spotlight on the ongoing probe and its political undertones. Both ED and ACB investigations are ongoing, with scrutiny of financial trails expected to continue in the coming months.
