CBI Raids Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel's Residence, Congress Leader Reacts

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday conducted searches at the residence of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel.

In response to this action by the investigative agency, Baghel's office in a post on X stated that the actions were taken to prevent him from attending a key Congress Party meeting that has been scheduled for April  8 and 9 in Ahmedabad.

The post read,  "Now CBI has come. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is scheduled to go to Delhi today for the meeting of the “Drafting Committee” constituted for the AICC meeting to be held in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) on 8 and 9 April. Even before that, CBI has reached Raipur and Bhilai residence. (Office-Bhupesh Baghel." (अब CBI आई है. आगामी 8 और 9 अप्रैल को अहमदाबाद (गुजरात) में होने वाली AICC की बैठक के लिए गठित “ड्राफ़्टिंग कमेटी” की मीटिंग के लिए आज पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री भूपेश बघेल का दिल्ली जाने का कार्यक्रम है. उससे पूर्व ही CBI रायपुर और भिलाई निवास पहुँच चुकी है. (कार्यालय-भूपेश बघेल)."

The officials also raided Baghel's residence in Raipur and Bhilai along with he premises of a senior police official and a close aide of the chief minister.

This comes just days after the Enforcement Directorate conducted a raid on Baghel’s home over suspicions of a liquor-related scandal, where it seized roughly Rs 30 lakh in cash from the former chief minister’s residence.

This investigation ties back to an alleged liquor scam, which authorities estimate resulted in substantial financial damage to the state treasury. The central agency claims that the liquor syndicate misappropriated approximately Rs 2,161 crore through a variety of illicit tactics.

According to the ED’s findings, the syndicate was active from 2019 to 2022, amassing significant illegal profits through several channels.

Additionally, the scam allegedly involved selling country liquor through government-operated outlets without any record, with the ED asserting that none of the proceeds reached the state coffers, instead being entirely diverted to the syndicate members.