ED Files 7,039-Page Chargesheet in Liquor Scam Against Ex-CM’s Son in Chhattisgarh

In a major development in Chhattisgarh’s ongoing liquor scam case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a massive 7,039-page prosecution complaint in a special court. The complainant is Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who has been in judicial custody since his arrest on July 18. The scam is alleged to have cost the state ₹2,100 crore. According to ED’s chargesheet, Chaitanya Baghel is accused of managing over ₹1,000 crore in illicit funds, with ₹22 crore reportedly invested into a real estate project. Of that, about ₹16.7 crore was allegedly funnelled through another developer. Multiple individuals have been implicated in the case, including bureaucrats and ex-minister Kawasi Lakhma. Bhupesh Baghel has denounced the allegations, calling them politically motivated. The complaint includes digital and documentary evidence, including data from hard disks seized during earlier raids. The ED’s FIR and subsequent investigations date back to 2019-2022, when the alleged liquor business irregularities took place during Congress rule in the state. The ED says that the activities drained state finances while benefiting a liquor syndicate. The court filing has put renewed spotlight on anti-corruption and accountability in Chhattisgarh. Observers believe that this case could have major political ramifications, given its high profile. There is considerable speculation about whether this will lead to more arrests or uncover further evidence against individuals beyond those already named. In related news, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Raipur upheld a compensation of ₹16 lakh against a hospital for “medical negligence” in the death of Himanshu Soni. The hospital’s failure to provide post-operative care and allegedly withholding vital medical records were cited. Also in Chhattisgarh, doctors at AIIMS-Raipur have successfully reattached the nearly severed leg of a three-year-old child from Balodabazar district, after a serious road accident. The surgery, which lasted six hours, involved reconnecting blood vessels and repairing soft tissue using vein grafts; the child is now recovering in the Paediatric ICU. The liquor scam chargesheet remains the top story, as it may influence upcoming political narratives in the state. Meanwhile, civil grievances over medical negligence and small victories in healthcare are also making headlines.