Chhattisgarh – The Anti-Corruption Bureau and Economic Offence Wing have filed a comprehensive chargesheet in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam, alleging that Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, received between ₹200 crore and ₹250 crore as his share from the massive fraud. The 3,800-page document represents the seventh supplementary chargesheet in a case that has now expanded to an estimated ₹3,500 crore in total proceeds of crime.
Seventh Supplementary Chargesheet Filed
The state police’s ACB/EOW filed its seventh supplementary chargesheet in the multi-crore Chhattisgarh liquor scam before a special court on Monday. The comprehensive document, spanning approximately 3,800 pages, has formally named Chaitanya Baghel as an accused in the alleged scam initially pegged at more than ₹3,000 crore. With this latest filing, a total of eight chargesheets have been submitted in the case, indicating the extensive nature of the investigation and the numerous individuals allegedly involved in the fraud.
Allegations Against Former CM’s Son
According to the chargesheet in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam, Chaitanya Baghel played a key role in establishing, coordinating, and protecting an extortion racket within the excise department during the previous Congress government, which was in office from 2018 to 2023. The ACB/EOW statement quoted the chargesheet as alleging that Chaitanya acted as a coordinator among various officials and ground-level operatives, issuing instructions to maintain the syndicate’s operations across multiple administrative levels.
Network of Officials and Operatives
The chargesheet in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam details Chaitanya’s alleged coordination role among officials including Anil Tuteja, Soumya Chaurasia, Arunpati Tripathi, and Niranjan Das, who reportedly worked in line with the syndicate’s interests at the administrative level. Additionally, he allegedly coordinated with ground-level operatives of the network including Anwar Dhebar, Arvind Singh, and Vikas Agarwal, all named as co-accused. This extensive network suggests a sophisticated operation spanning multiple levels of government and business.
Financial Trail and Share Distribution
The investigation into the Chhattisgarh liquor scam revealed that Chaitanya worked through trusted associates to transfer and manage proceeds collected by businessman Anwar Dhebar’s team, moving the funds to higher levels. Evidence presented in the chargesheet indicates that Chaitanya, along with managing the proceeds of crime at a higher level, received approximately ₹200 crore to ₹250 crore as his personal share. This substantial amount represents a significant portion of the overall fraud, highlighting the alleged scale of corruption.
High-Level Protection Enabled Crime
The probe into the Chhattisgarh liquor scam revealed that high-level protection, policy and administrative intervention, and influence provided to the syndicate by Chaitanya enabled the crime to be perpetrated over an extended period. The chargesheet suggests that without this protection from the highest levels, the systematic extortion and fraud within the excise department could not have continued throughout the Congress government’s tenure. This alleged protection allowed the syndicate to operate with impunity while extracting massive sums.
Escalating Estimate of Total Fraud
The ongoing investigation into the Chhattisgarh liquor scam has led to escalating estimates of the total proceeds of crime. The chargesheet states that the amount involved is estimated to be approximately ₹3,074 crore. However, further investigation suggests the total amount of proceeds of crime generated from the alleged scam could exceed ₹3,500 crore. This upward revision indicates that investigators continue uncovering additional evidence of fraud as they dig deeper into financial records and digital evidence.
Digital Evidence and Current Status
The latest chargesheet in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam details the current status of the probe against accused individuals already arrested, along with digital evidence reports pertaining to all those in custody. This digital evidence likely includes financial transactions, communications, and electronic records that trace the flow of illegal proceeds through the network. The comprehensive nature of the digital evidence strengthens the prosecution’s case against the accused.
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Political Fallout and Accusations
Beyond the Chhattisgarh liquor scam, BJP president JP Nadda made serious allegations that some insiders in the Congress were involved in facilitating the 2013 Jhiram Ghati Naxal attack, which killed state Congress leaders. Nadda claimed that people from within Congress ranks were involved in getting their own colleagues killed and were in contact with Naxalites. These allegations represent a significant escalation in political attacks against the party.
Bhupesh Baghel’s Response
Hitting back at Nadda’s allegations, former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel stated that the BJP’s national president had insulted the martyrs who lost their lives in the Jhiram incident. Baghel demanded that security agencies, including the NIA, should question Nadda and demand proof of his claims. He emphasized that Congress lost leaders in the Naxal attack and accused Nadda of insulting their martyrdom by making collusion allegations.
Implications for Congress Leadership
The chargesheet in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam poses serious political challenges for the Congress party and Bhupesh Baghel’s leadership. The allegations against his son, combined with the massive scale of the alleged fraud during his tenure as Chief Minister, raise questions about governance and oversight during the Congress administration. As investigations continue and more evidence emerges, the political ramifications could extend well beyond the immediate legal proceedings.
The Chhattisgarh liquor scam investigation continues to uncover evidence of systematic corruption, with the latest chargesheet representing a significant development in holding alleged perpetrators accountable.
