Raipur, Dec 23: The Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday alleged that Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, personally gained between Rs 200–250 crore from an alleged liquor scam that took place between 2019 and 2022, during his father’s tenure.
In a supplementary chargesheet filed before a special court in Raipur on December 22, the EOW claimed that a “syndicate” comprising senior bureaucrats, politicians, and excise department officials operated a parallel excise system. According to investigators, illegal liquor sales caused a loss of Rs 3,074 crore to the state exchequer, a figure that could rise above Rs 3,500 crore as the probe continues.
Chaitanya, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on July 18 in connection with the case, is accused of acting as a link between government officials and the alleged liquor syndicate, including Anwar Dhebar, brother of Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar. Investigators said he facilitated the transfer of proceeds collected by Dhebar’s network to higher levels, receiving his share through companies linked to accused Trilok Singh Dhillon, which were allegedly invested in family-run businesses and real estate ventures.
“The scale of the scam evidence indicates that besides managing funds at a high level, Chaitanya personally received approximately Rs 200–250 crore,” an EOW official said.
The chargesheet, the eighth filed in the ongoing investigation, details digital evidence and updates the status of probes against both arrested and under-investigation suspects. Officials named as part of the alleged syndicate include Anil Tuteja, Saumya Chaurasia, Arunpati Tripathi, Niranjan Das, Anwar Dhebar, Arvind Singh, and Vikas Agrawal.
Chaitanya’s lawyer, Faisal Rizvi, dismissed the allegations, stating, “The EOW has no evidence. They are making a case based on statements of absconding accused in the case.”
Investigators allege that the syndicate supplied illegal liquor to government-run shops and collected illicit commissions from sales, operating under high-level protection and administrative influence. The probe into financial and operational trails continues, with authorities expecting further findings as the investigation progresses.
