Who is Chaitanya Baghel? Arrested on his birthday amidst liquor and betting controversies?

Raipur, July 18 (NationPress) In a shocking turn of events that has reverberated through Chhattisgarh's political landscape, Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 18, 2025—on his birthday—over a massive Rs 2,161 crore liquor scandal.

This arrest, executed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), followed new raids at the Baghel residence in Bhilai and signifies a significant escalation in the state's battle against corruption.

The ED claims that from 2019 to 2022, a clandestine excise syndicate operated under the Congress-led administration, involving bureaucrats, contractors, and political figures. Liquor was sold illegally through state-run outlets using counterfeit holograms and altered foreign liquor licenses (FL-10A), with commissions of Rs 75 per case allegedly directed to senior officials. Chaitanya is believed to have benefited from this illicit operation.

In previous raids conducted in March 2025, Rs 30 lakh was seized from properties associated with him and his father.

While formal charges remain pending, there are ongoing speculations about Chaitanya's potential involvement with the Mahadev betting app, a digital gambling platform currently under scrutiny for money laundering activities.

The CBI, following findings from the ED and EOW, filed an FIR in December 2024 against 21 individuals—including Bhupesh Baghel—under the Corruption, Fraud and Gambling Act. This FIR, which is now widely circulated, names various businessmen, police officials, and political operatives allegedly affiliated with the Mahadev syndicate.

The arrest has sparked intense political backlash, with Bhupesh Baghel accusing the BJP-led central government of engaging in vendetta politics, asserting that the timing was aimed at undermining opposition efforts to highlight environmental concerns in the Assembly.

Chaitanya, an MBA graduate and former real estate entrepreneur, is a general member of the Congress party but does not hold a formal position and has largely stayed away from active political engagements. As the only son of Bhupesh Baghel, he resides with his family in Bhilai and was originally involved in real estate, overseeing the family’s vegetable farming venture.

His wedding in Raipur in 2023 garnered significant media attention, attended by prominent Congress leaders and Chief Ministers from various states. Despite his political lineage, Chaitanya does not hold a formal role within the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress and typically shies away from direct political involvement. Observers speculate he might have contested from Patan—his father’s Assembly seat—if Bhupesh Baghel had succeeded in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

During his father's tenure as Chief Minister, Baghel insisted that Chaitanya would not interact directly with government officials. Chaitanya has also faced legal challenges in the past; in 2023, he was interrogated in connection with an attempted murder case, and again in 2024 regarding an assault on a college professor. However, no formal charges were lodged in either case.

As the ED continues to seize assets—now surpassing Rs 205 crore—and files additional charge sheets, this case is set to broaden. With the intertwining of liquor and betting scandals, Chaitanya Baghel’s arrest could be crucial in unraveling one of Chhattisgarh’s most intricate political-financial networks.