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Court sends Chaitanya Baghel, son of ex-Chhattisgarh CM, to judicial custody in liquor 'scam' case

RAIPUR: A special court here on Tuesday remanded Chaitanya Baghel, son of senior Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, in a 14-day judicial custody in a money laundering case linked to the alleged liquor scam. Chaitanya was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 18 following a search at his house which he shares with his father in Bhilai town of Durg district in the state. The accused was produced before the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (VI) Damarudhar Chouhan on Tuesday on expiry of his ED custody, the central probe agency's counsel Saurabh Kumar Pande told reporters. During his custodial remand, Chaitanya was interrogated and confronted with statements and documents during which he conceded at many points. There was not much left for interrogation so the ED requested the court for his judicial custody, he said. The court sent him to jail in judicial custody till August 4, he added. If required, he can be questioned by the agency with the court's permission, he said. The ED claimed in a statement that Chaitanya handled more than Rs 1,000 crore worth of proceeds of crime generated from a liquor scam in the state and used Rs 16.7 crore for the development of his real estate project. Chaitanya was in receipt of proceeds of crime worth Rs 16.70 crore. He had used his real estate firms to intermingle the said funds. It was found that he had utilised the said cash amount (proceeds of crime) in development of his real estate project, it said. His father Bhupesh Baghel has alleged that central agencies were being misused to target the opposition leaders, but stressed that he trusted the judiciary and would cooperate. The former CM has alleged that the ED action against his son was initiated to divert attention from the illegal tree felling for coal mines in the state as the Congress was set to raise the issue in the state assembly last week. Former Chhattisgarh CM Baghel says sons arrest aimed at diverting attention from illegal tree felling The Congress on Tuesday staged chakka jam (road blockade) in different parts of the state to protest against the ED's action. The ED has said that the alleged 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. The scam in the state, according to the ED, was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 when Chhattisgarh was governed by the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government. In January, the ED arrested former minister and Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma, besides Anwar Dhebar, former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer Arunpati Tripathi and some others as part of their investigations in the case. The EOW/ACB registered the FIR on January 17 last year, about a month after the BJP defeated the Congress in the 2023 assembly polls, and named 70 individuals and companies, including former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma and former chief secretary Vivek Dhand. According to the ED, the alleged commission generated through the illegal sale of liquor was shared as per the directions from the highest political executives of the state. ED arrests Chaitanya Baghel, son of Bhupesh Baghel, in liquor 'scam' linked money laundering case

The New Indian Express 22 Jul 2025 7:24 pm

Chhattisgarh: Congress calls economic blockade on July 22 to protest arrest of Baghels son

The ED had conducted searches in Mr. Baghels residence in Bhilai, nearly 35 km from here, on Friday and later arrested his son

Deccan Chronicle 19 Jul 2025 9:40 pm

Former Chhattisgarh CM Baghel says sons arrest aimed at diverting attention from illegal tree felling

A day after Chaitanya Baghel was arrested in a money laundering case linked to the alleged liquor scam, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel questioned the timing of the ED raid at his Bhilai residence.

The New Indian Express 19 Jul 2025 9:25 pm

Ex CMs son arrested in liquor scam

RAIPUR, July 18: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested Chaitnaya Baghel, son of senior Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in an alleged liquor scam linked money laundering case, official sources said. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp He was taken 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. A [] The post Ex CMs son arrested in liquor scam appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Daily Excelsior 19 Jul 2025 5:03 am

Chhattisgarh ex-CM Bhupesh Baghel's son held by ED in Rs 5000 crore 'liquor scam'

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, in connection with an alleged liquor scandal. Following a search at his Bhilai residence, he was remanded to five-day ED custody by a Raipur court.

The Economic Times 18 Jul 2025 11:24 pm

ED arrests ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghels son in liquor scam case

Raipur, Jul 18 (PTI) The ED (Enforcement Directorate) on Friday arrested Chaitnaya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, in an alleged liquor scam linked money laundering case, official sources said. He was taken 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. The sources said that 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 receipt of fresh

The Sen Times 18 Jul 2025 6:19 pm

ED arrests Chhattisgarh Ex-CM Bhupesh Baghels son in liquor scam case

Chaitanya Baghel, son of ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate on Friday. This action is tied to a money laundering investigation concerning a purported Rs 2,100-crore liquor scam. The arrest occurred after new raids were conducted at the Baghel's Bhilai residence, where both father and son reside.

The Economic Times 18 Jul 2025 12:52 pm

ED raids ex-Chhattisgarh CM Baghel`s home in connection with case against son

Chaitanya Baghel`s house in Bhilai town, which he shares with his father, is being searched by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on receipt of fresh evidence in the case

Mid Day 18 Jul 2025 8:53 am

ED raids ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel's home in connection with case against son

RAIPUR: The Enforcement Directorate on Friday launched fresh raids at the premises of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel's son Chaitanya Baghel in connection with a money laundering probe against him linked to an alleged liquor scam, officials said. Chaitanya Baghel's house in Bhilai town, which he shares with his father, is being searched by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on receipt of fresh evidence in the case, they said. The federal probe agency conducted similar raids against Chaitanya Baghel in March this year. Bhupesh Baghel, a senior Congress leader, also posted a message on X saying the ED has reached his Bhilai residence on the last day of the assembly session. ED . . . ED . (- ) Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) July 18, 2025 The ED earlier said Chaitanya Baghel was suspected to be the ecipient of the proceeds of crime of the alleged liquor scam. It has said the Chhattisgarh liquor scam resulted in a massive loss to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate with more than Rs 2,100 crore of proceeds of crime.

The New Indian Express 18 Jul 2025 8:14 am

ED raids ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel's son's home in connection with liquor scam case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted new raids on Friday at the Bhilai residence of Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, concerning a money laundering investigation tied to an alleged liquor scam. These actions, under the PMLA, follow previous raids in March and are based on newly acquired evidence.

The Economic Times 18 Jul 2025 7:47 am

Former MLA, Congress leader arrested in Chhattisgarh over remarks on Prime Minister

Separate FIRs registered in Bilaspur and Bhilai under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IT Act

The Hindu 4 Jun 2025 8:53 pm

Doctor faces action for using Operation Sindoor for promotion

RAIPUR : In an alleged attempt to promote his professional services, a doctor in Chhattisgarh used a line -- blood and water cannot flow together from PM Narendra Modis speech in the wake of Operation Sindoor. After a social media storm, the Bhilaibased urologist was suspended on disciplinary ground. Dr Shivendra Singh Tiwary, associate professor general surgery in Shri Shankaracharya Institute of Medical Sciences, posted a promotional message for his medical store on social media, cleverly tying in PM Modis quote made in the wake of Operation Sindoor. A high power-committee has been constituted by the administration to probe into the matter and the doctor has been suspended for 15 days by the institute, hospital officials said. The doctor used the very line of the PM on his advertised board where he further added: So if you see blood in your urine, immediately consult a urologist. It may be serious. The ad is an apparent effort to promote urological health. Experts said the doctors may use social media platforms for extending professional care of patients but using the same tool for self-promotion with a statement of the PM is unjustified. The Dean of the institute has issued an official order: your act of advertising yourself which has been getting viral on social media is unwarranted and disgraceful on your part being a responsible medical personnel. The management has taken a serious view of the act of yours. you are hereby suspended with immediate effect for 15 days.

The New Indian Express 18 May 2025 9:37 am

Urologist in hot water after advertising his services with line from PM Modis speech post Operation Sindoor

RAIPUR: A Bhilai-based urologist has landed in hot water after attempting to promote his professional services by using a line from a speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of Operation Sindoor. The act went viral on social media following which Dr Shivendra Singh Tiwari, associate professor general surgery in Shri Shankaracharya Institute of Medical Sciences, was suspended for 15 days on disciplinary grounds. A high-power committee has been constituted by the administration to probe into the matter. The urologist borrowed the line Blood and water cant flow together, which PM Modi had used to hint that there would be no reversal in the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. The treaty was put on hold after the April 22 terror attack in Kashmirs Pahalgam. India subsequently carried out retaliatory strikes targeting terror camps located in PoK and Pakistan. The doctor further added, So if you see blood in your urine, immediately consult a urologist. It may be serious. Medical experts said that doctors may use social media platforms to extend professional care to patients and serve larger public health causes but using the same tool for self-promotion is unjustified. Meanwhile, the dean of the institute has issued an official order that stated, Your act of advertising yourself which has been getting viral on WhatsApp, social media is unwarranted and disgraceful on your part being a responsible medical personnel. The management has therefore taken a very serious view of above act of yours. You are hereby suspended with immediate effect for a period of 15 days. Dr Tiwari was not available for comment.

The New Indian Express 17 May 2025 8:45 pm

Rs 11,828cr expansion of 5 IITs to add 6.5k seats gets nod

The Union cabinet has approved a significant expansion of academic and infrastructure capacity for five IITs in Tirupati, Bhilai, Jammu, Dharwad, and Palakkad. This expansion, costing Rs 11,828.7 crore, aims to facilitate education for over 6,500 additional students and nearly double the current capacity to 13,687. The initiative includes creating 130 new faculty positions and establishing five state-of-the-art research parks to enhance industry-academia collaboration.

The Times of India 8 May 2025 2:11 am