The Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing and Anti-Corruption Bureau (EOW/ACB) has taken a significant step forward in the high-profile state liquor scam case. On Monday, the agency filed a fresh chargesheet, its eighth in the matter, specifically targeting Chaitanya Baghel, the son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The document paints him as a central architect and protector of an illegal collection network within the state's excise department.
The Alleged Kingpin's Role
According to the investigating agency, Chaitanya Baghel was not a peripheral figure but a key operator. The EOW/ACB chargesheet describes him as playing a central role in creating, coordinating, and protecting the alleged syndicate. This network is accused of orchestrating a massive, multi-crore financial fraud related to liquor operations in the state.
The agency's statement was unequivocal: "On the basis of the investigation so far, it is clear that the crime could continue for such a long period only because the syndicate enjoyed high-level protection, policy and administrative intervention and influence through accused Chaitanya Baghel." This points directly to accusations of top-level political shielding that allowed the scam to flourish.
Financial Scale and Key Connections
The financial implications are staggering. The EOW/ACB claims that evidence indicates Chaitanya Baghel personally received between Rs 200 to 250 crore as his share from the illicit operations. Beyond managing funds at the top, he is alleged to have been the crucial link connecting senior bureaucrats with the on-ground operatives.
The chargesheet names several officials and individuals in this nexus. It alleges Baghel acted as the conduit between senior bureaucrats, including then officials Anil Tuteja, Saumya Chaurasia, Arunpati Tripathi, and Niranjan Das, and the so-called "ground-level heads" like Anwar Dhebar, Arvind Singh, and Vikas Agrawal. This alignment, the agency argues, ensured that administrative decisions were twisted to serve the network's financial interests.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Proceedings
This eighth chargesheet was formally submitted before the Special Court in Raipur. Importantly, the document notes that the investigation is still very much active. The probe against other suspects remains under scrutiny, indicating that more developments and possibly more chargesheets could follow.
The filing of this fresh chargesheet marks a critical juncture in a case that has significant political ramifications in Chhattisgarh. It underscores the agency's focus on unraveling the layers of alleged corruption that permeated the excise department's operations, with a clear trail leading to influential figures.
The EOW/ACB has reiterated that its inquiry is continuing, suggesting that the full scope of the liquor scam and all involved parties are yet to be completely uncovered. The case continues to be a major point of political and legal contention in the state.
