Congress' Imran Masood on ED Raids: ‘BJP Discontented with Baghel’s Work in Punjab’

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted raids at the residence of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel, along with his son Chaitanya Baghel and others, in connection with an alleged multi-crore liquor scam. According to sources, the raids were part of an ongoing investigation into suspected illegal commissions and money laundering amounting to approximately Rs 2,161 crore. A total of 14 locations across Chhattisgarh were searched as part of the operation.

The ED claims that Chaitanya Baghel is a "recipient of proceeds of crime" generated from the alleged scam, which involved a cartel of government officials, politicians, and liquor businessmen manipulating the state’s liquor trade. The agency alleges that illegal funds were siphoned off through manipulated records, bribes, and unauthorized liquor sales outside the legal system. The investigation is based on a previous Income Tax Department report, which flagged significant irregularities.

In response to the raids, several Congress leaders accused the BJP-led central government of using the ED as a political weapon. Congress MP Imran Masood alleged that the raids were linked to Baghel’s recent appointment as the Punjab Congress in-charge, claiming, “They have made the ED their weapon. Bhupesh Baghel is working to bring change in Punjab, and the BJP is miffed. Rahul Gandhi’s soldiers will not be afraid.”

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari echoed similar sentiments, stating that agencies like the ED, CBI, and Income Tax Department were acting as "frontal organizations of the BJP." He argued that a raid did not imply guilt and questioned the timing of the action. Congress MP Manickam Tagore went further, accusing the ED of acting as a “pet dog” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. “They can send this dog anywhere they want. Bhupesh Baghel has been a strong leader for Congress, and he has fought these battles. We all know that these fake narratives built by the BJP and RSS will be defeated,” he said. Tagore also emphasized that Baghel, having risen from a backward class, had worked tirelessly for the people of Chhattisgarh and was now being targeted.

Baghel's Office Responds
Reacting to the developments, Baghel’s office released a statement on X (formerly Twitter), calling the ED action a “conspiracy” to weaken the Congress in Punjab. “When the false case running for seven years was dismissed in court, the ED arrived at Bhupesh Baghel’s Bhilai residence this morning. If someone is trying to stop Congress in Punjab through this conspiracy, they are mistaken,” the statement read.

On the other hand, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao defended the ED raids, asserting that they were not sudden but part of a long-running investigation. “How can one deny that there have been big scams during Bhupesh Baghel’s tenure? The ED has been investigating for a long time. If there is no wrongdoing, then there is no reason to be afraid,” Sao stated.

The ED has previously arrested several key accused in the case, including IAS officer Anil Tuteja and liquor businessman Anwar Dhebar, the brother of Raipur’s mayor. The agency had also conducted multiple raids on politicians and bureaucrats linked to the previous Congress-led government in Chhattisgarh.