Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam: Ex-CM Baghel's Son Chaitanya Gets Bail, Family Calls it 'Victory of Truth'

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In a significant development, the Chhattisgarh High Court has granted bail to Chaitanya Baghel, the son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in two cases linked to the alleged ₹3,000 crore liquor scam in the state. The scam is believed to have taken place between 2019 and 2022, when the Congress was in power in Chhattisgarh under Bhupesh Baghel's leadership. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrested Chaitanya Baghel in July last year in connection with its money laundering investigation into the alleged scam. He was later arrested by the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offences Wing (ACB/EOW) in September while in jail for allegedly managing the proceeds of the crime and receiving a substantial share. The ED has alleged that Chaitanya Baghel was at the helm of the alleged liquor syndicate and personally handled nearly ₹1,000 crore generated from the scam. The ACB/EOW has claimed that the total proceeds of crime generated from the alleged liquor scam could exceed ₹3,500 crore. Reacting to the high court's decision, Bhupesh Baghel welcomed the order, saying, 'Truth may be troubled, but it cannot be defeated.' He alleged that the central and state governments were using agencies like the ED, CBI, and EOW to harass opposition leaders. 'Those who get scared, join their party or compromise, while those who do not are sent to jail,' he said. However, the BJP spokesperson, Sacchinand Upasane, said that the bail does not mean Chaitanya Baghel is innocent, and the case will proceed with the investigation continuing.