Raipur: The ongoing investigation into the Chhattisgarh liquor scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday provisionally attached properties worth ₹61.20 crore linked to Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The attachment order, issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), covers a mix of immovable and movable assets allegedly created using illicit proceeds routed through multiple layers.
According to the agency, the attached properties include ₹59.96 crore worth of immovable assets, comprising 364 residential plots and agricultural land parcels, along with ₹1.24 crore in movable assets such as bank balances and deposits. Officials said the action is part of a wider effort to trace the flow of funds generated through what they describe as a “systemic and politically shielded” liquor distribution racket.
ED probe began after ACB/EOW FIR flagged large-scale corruption
The ED initiated the probe based on an FIR registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offences Wing (ACB/EOW), Raipur, which had invoked several serious IPC sections and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The FIR alleged that a structured syndicate operated within the state’s liquor supply and licensing system, influencing policy decisions and siphoning off large sums through inflated billing, manipulated contracts, and illegal commissions.
Preliminary findings shared by investigators suggest that the syndicate may have generated over ₹2,500 crore in illegal proceeds. These funds are suspected to have been collected through irregularities at multiple points in the liquor supply chain — from procurement and logistics to distribution and retail-level manipulation.
“Chaitanya Baghel was operating at the top of the syndicate hierarchy”: ED
In its statement, the ED claimed that financial analysis under PMLA has placed Chaitanya Baghel “at a strategic decision-making level” within the alleged liquor syndicate. The agency maintains that Baghel’s influence, owing to his political proximity, enabled him to exercise control over key decisions related to the collection, routing, and allocation of illicit proceeds.
Officials allege that Baghel monitored the bank accounts and fund flows where the “proceeds of crime” were being deposited or layered through shell structures. Investigators claim this indicates not only knowledge of the transactions but also active oversight over how the funds were moved or re-invested.
Real estate investments under scanner; layering suspected through Baghel Developers
One of the central findings of the ED relates to alleged layering of illicit funds through real-estate investments. The agency says that a substantial portion of the suspected illegal income was diverted to Baghel Developers, a real-estate entity linked to Chaitanya Baghel.
The money was allegedly channelled into the company’s project, “Vitthal Green”, which the ED describes as a typical example of converting unaccounted cash into seemingly legitimate assets. According to investigators, cash was layered through multiple intermediaries before being invested in land acquisition and construction activity, masking the original source of the income.
Officials say this matches the classic money-laundering pattern under PMLA — moving illegal funds through several stages of placement, layering, and integration until they appear to be part of legitimate commercial activity.
More attachments likely as probe widens
Senior officials indicate that the investigation is still in its early phase, with several bank accounts, property records, and financial documents under scrutiny. The ED is also examining whether the alleged syndicate’s operations were confined to the liquor department or extended further into the administrative apparatus.
Given the scale of transactions and the multiple layers involved, officials have not ruled out more attachments in the coming weeks. The agency is also probing whether other politically influential individuals had a role in the alleged network.
Political reactions intensify; legal battle on the horizon
The attachment order has triggered a sharp political buzz in the state. While Chaitanya Baghel has not issued an official statement so far, sources close to the family suggest that a legal challenge to the ED action is being prepared.
The ED clarified that the provisional attachment is only the first step under PMLA. Depending on the final findings of the investigation, the order may be converted into a confirmed attachment, paving the way for eventual confiscation.
