Massive Liquor Scam Rocks Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh is embroiled in a significant scandal involving its liquor trade, now exposed as one of India’s largest scams. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, revealing a massive corruption network that has shaken the state. The ED alleges that from 2019 to 2023, the liquor trade operated as a state-run extortion racket, masked by policy and driven by political influence. At the center of this operation was Chaitanya Baghel, accused of diverting black money into real estate and building a cash-fueled empire.

Key Figures and Allegations

The scandal involves a syndicate led by Anwar Dhebar, Anil Tuteja, and Arun Pati Tripathi, allegedly under the guidance of retired IAS officer Vivek Dhand. According to the ED, Dhand was not just an observer but a direct beneficiary. Chaitanya Baghel’s arrest is significant, with his real estate project Vitthal Green allegedly serving as a front for laundering illicit liquor profits. The ED claims that Baghel’s company received Rs 5 crore from Saheli Jewellers, a shell firm flagged for laundering scam proceeds.

Complex Money Laundering Scheme

The ED’s investigation reveals that despite only Rs 7.14 crore being recorded in books, the actual construction cost was between Rs 13 to Rs 15 crore, with at least Rs 4.2 crore paid in cash to contractors. In 2020, employees of liquor baron Trilok Singh Dhillon purchased 19 flats in one day, allegedly to obscure the money trail.

Three-Part Corruption Strategy

The scam unfolded in three parts: Part A involved distilleries paying Rs 75 per liquor case as a bribe facilitated by high-ranking officers. This channel alone generated over Rs 319 crore. Part B exposed a shadow economy where liquor was sold using duplicate holograms, bypassing state warehouses. In 2022-23, 400 trucks per month transported illegal liquor, earning Rs 3,000 per case. Part C targeted foreign liquor through a rigged license system called FL-10A, generating Rs 211 crore.

Systemic Corruption and Political Fallout

The ED describes this as a hijack of governance and a hostile takeover of the excise economy by those in power. Laxmi Narayan Bansal, known as Pappu, confessed to managing over Rs 1,000 crore in scam proceeds and delivering cash on Chaitanya Baghel’s instructions. With Baghel in custody, the ED seeks further interrogation to uncover more evidence and identify others involved. The political repercussions are significant, with allegations that Rs 1,392 crore was diverted to Congress leaders between 2019 and 2022.