Chhattisgarh News: ED Raids Ex-CM Bhupesh Baghel’s Properties, Seizes ₹33 Lakh Cash; Congress Calls It Political Vendetta

Raipur/Bhilai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided properties belonging to former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and AICC General Secretary Bhupesh Baghel and his son, Chaitanya, on Monday. The 10-hour raid, which began at 8 am, reportedly seized Rs 33 lakh in cash, jewellery, and investment documents.

According to sources, the ED team arrived at the Baghel residence in Bhilai-3 Padumnagar in four vehicles and used a currency counting machine on the site.

Baghel has denounced the raid as a politically motivated attack on opposition leaders intended to silence him. He asserted that the Congress party would not be intimidated. He linked the raid to his recent questioning of BJP Deputy CM Vijay Sharma in the state assembly.

Baghel stated he and his large joint family, who are involved in farming and dairy businesses and possess 140 acres of land, had been anticipating the ED’s arrival. He claimed the seized cash included Rs 33 lakh, jewlery, documents including stridhan, which was deposited in the house from various family members.

Baghel announced that Congress would hold statewide protests against the raids, vowing defiance in Chhattisgarh and across the country.

The ED also conducted raids at 14 locations, including properties connected to Chaitanya Baghel, who is alleged to have benefited from a Rs 2100 crore liquor scam.

Other locations targeted included premises associated with Chaitanya's associates Laxminarayan Bansal and Pappu Bansal, as well as Manoj Rajput, Abhishek Thakur, Sandeep Singh, Kamal Aggarwal, Kishore Rice Mill Durg, Sunil Agarwal Saheli Jewellers Durg, and builder Ajay Chauhan.

It has been reported, some Congress supporters pelted stones on ED vehicles during the raid. As of the time of this report, the ED has not issued an official statement regarding the raids.