Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Raipur Zonal Office has arrested Chaitanya Baghel, S/o Sh. Bhupesh Baghel (Ex-CM of Chhattisgarh) on 18.07.2025 in Liquor scam case (which took place between 2019 to 2022), under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. He was produced before the Hon’ble Special Court (PMLA), Raipur and the Hon’ble Court has granted ED custody for 5 days i.e. till 22.07.2025.

ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR registered by ACB/EOW, Raipur, Chhattisgarh under various sections of IPC, 1860 and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 in the Liquor scam in the State of Chhattisgarh. Police investigation has revealed that Chhattisgarh Liquor scam resulted in a massive loss to the State Exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries with more than Rs. 2500 Crore of Proceeds of Crime (POC) generated by the commission of scheduled offences.

ED investigation revealed that Chaitanya Baghel was in receipt of POC worth Rs 16.70 Crore. He had used his real estate firms to intermingle said POC. It has been revealed that he had utilized the said cash amount of POC in development of his real estate project. The use of POC was designed by way of Payment in cash to contractor of his projects, Bank entries against Cash etc. He also colluded with one Trilok Singh Dhillon and utilized his companies to devise a scheme as per which he indirectly received Rs. 5 Crore in the guise of purchase of flats in his “Vitthalpuram Project” in the name of employees of Trilok Singh Dhillon. There is banking trail which indicate during the relevant period of transactions, Trilok Singh Dhillon received payments from the liquor syndicate in his bank accounts.

Furthermore, he had also been found to have handled more than Rs 1000 Crore of POC generated out of liquor scam. He used to coordinate with Anwar Dhebar and others for transfer of POC to the then treasurer of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee. Investigation conducted by ED has revealed that the funds out of this liquor scam were also handed over to key associates of Baghel family for further investments. The end utilization of this fund is being probed further.

Earlier, Anil Tuteja (Ex-IAS), Arvind Singh, Trilok Singh Dhillon, Anwar Dhebar, Arun Pati Tripathi (ITS) and Kawasi Lakhma (MLA and the then Excise Minister of Chhattisgarh) were arrested by ED in the matter.

Further investigation is under progress.