Chaitanya Baghel, Already Behind Bars from ED Custody, Faces Fresh Charges from State ACB/EOW Over Alleged Multi-Crore Illicit Liquor Network
Published on: September 25, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Raipur, India
In a dramatic twist to one of Chhattisgarh’s most high-profile corruption cases, Chaitanya Baghel, the son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, was arrested on September 24, 2025, by the state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Economic Offences Wing (EOW). This marks the second major arrest for the 30-year-old businessman in connection with the alleged ₹2,000 crore liquor scam that has rocked the state’s political landscape since the BJP came to power in December 2023.
Chaitanya, who had been in judicial custody since his initial arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 18, 2025, was produced before a special court in Raipur late Wednesday evening. Officials from the ACB/EOW allege that he played a pivotal role in a syndicate that manipulated liquor tenders, evaded taxes, and laundered proceeds through shell companies during the Congress regime. The scam, dubbed the “liquor policy racket,” reportedly involved kickbacks to politicians, bureaucrats, and middlemen, with illicit hooch distribution allegedly fueling violence in tribal areas.
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Sources close to the investigation revealed that fresh evidence, including digital trails of suspicious transactions and witness statements from distillery owners, prompted the new arrest. “This is not just about one individual; it’s about dismantling a deep-rooted nexus that siphoned off public money meant for welfare schemes,” said a senior EOW officer, speaking anonymously. The probe has already led to raids on over 50 locations across Raipur, Durg, and Bhilai, seizing documents, cash, and luxury vehicles worth crores.
The Baghel family has vehemently denied the charges, calling them a “politically motivated vendetta” by the BJP government. Former CM Bhupesh Baghel, addressing a press conference in Rajnandgaon, accused the central agencies of acting as “tools of the ruling party” to silence opposition voices ahead of local body elections. “My son is innocent, and this is revenge for exposing the BJP’s own scams,” he thundered, vowing to challenge the arrest in the Chhattisgarh High Court.
The case echoes the Delhi excise policy scandal that ensnared AAP leaders, drawing parallels in its focus on policy loopholes exploited for personal gain. As the investigation intensifies, with more arrests anticipated, the liquor scam threatens to overshadow Chhattisgarh’s silver jubilee celebrations, highlighting the state’s ongoing battle against entrenched corruption in its ₹3.5 lakh crore economy.
