Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has once again accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misusing central agencies to target opposition-ruled states, particularly Chhattisgarh.
He claimed that despite the state being relatively small, it has witnessed the highest number of raids.
Speaking about the ongoing searches, Baghel alleged that the BJP systematically uses agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax (IT) Department to intimidate political opponents.
He pointed out that the first raid in Chhattisgarh was conducted in 2020, followed by another in 2021 after the BJP lost Jharkhand. He also noted that Punjab is now facing similar action but maintained that Congress leaders are not afraid of such raids.
His remarks come after the ED conducted searches at multiple locations in Chhattisgarh, including the residences of Baghel and his son Chaitanya Baghel. The agency is probing alleged irregularities in a multi-crore liquor scam in the state.
Following the raid, Baghel took to social media, stating that officials left his residence after discovering a few items, including a pen drive containing recorded conversations about alleged financial transactions involving Manturam Pawar and Dr Puneet Gupta, the son-in-law of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh.
He also mentioned documents related to SAIL company allegedly linked to Abhishek Singh, Raman Singh’s son.
Baghel further revealed that the total amount found at his home, including funds from farming, dairy, and family assets, was approximately ₹33 lakh. He asserted that he would provide proper documentation for this sum.
However, he also accused the ED officials of failing to provide an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) number, raising questions about the legitimacy of the probe.
Sources indicate that the ED conducted searches at 14 locations across Chhattisgarh as part of the investigation into alleged financial irregularities in the state’s liquor trade.
The agency claims that a network of government officials, politicians, and liquor traders was involved in collecting illegal commissions and laundering money.
According to ED reports, this cartel allegedly controlled the liquor supply chain between 2019 and 2022, illegally collecting around ₹2,161 crore through a manipulated distribution system.
The scam reportedly involved the sale of alcohol through government-run shops, with profits being siphoned off through illicit means.
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