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Chaitnaya Baghel was arrested under section 19 of the anti-money laundering as he was allegedly not cooperating during the searches
Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel with his son Chaitanya Baghel. File Image/Facebook
Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday came down heavily on the BJP-led central government after his son Chaitanya Baghel was arrested in an alleged liquor scam-linked money laundering case.
“This strategy has been adopted to muzzle the opposition. They are now targeting my son… We will not get scared or bow down. Today, my son has been arrested on his birthday. Last year on my birthday, my advisor was targeted,” the senior Congress leader said.
Chaitanya Baghel Arrested In Liquor ‘Scam’
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday took Chaitanya Baghel into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after fresh raids were carried out at his home in Bhilai town in Durg district. The father-son duo reside at the same place.
Chaitnaya Baghel was arrested under section 19 of the anti-money laundering as he was allegedly not cooperating during the searches that came about following the receipt of fresh evidence in the case, news agency PTI reported, citing sources.
The ED earlier claimed that Chaitanya Baghel was suspected to be the “recipient” of the proceeds from the alleged liquor scam. It has been said that the “scam” resulted in a “massive loss” to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate with over Rs 2,100 crore.
In this case, the ED in January arrested former minister and Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma besides Anwar Dhebar, the elder brother of Raipur Mayor and Congress leader Aijaz Dhebar, former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer Arunpati Tripathi and some others as part of this investigation.
The alleged liquor scam in the central Indian state, according to the ED, was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 when Chhattisgarh was governed by the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government.
Congress Boycotts Chhattisgarh Assembly Proceedings Over ED Action
Congress MLAs on Friday boycotted the proceedings of the Chhattisgarh assembly for the day as a mark of protest against the Enforcement Directorate’s action against former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel’s son, and accused the central probe agency of trying to harass the opposition.
Speaking in the House, Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant asked whether the government has been functioning as per the democratic system or not.
“The way ED has been carrying out raids…it is trying to put pressure on us and harass us and our family members. Our son (Chaitanya Baghel) has been picked up (by the ED) on his birthday,” he said.
“We strongly oppose the move and we boycott the proceedings of the assembly,” Mahant added.
Friday is the last day of the ongoing monsoon session of the legislative assembly.
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
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Raipur, India, India
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