Chhattisgarh raids: ED unearthed nothing of concern, says Bhupesh Baghel; son summoned (2nd Ld)
Raipur, March 10 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has reportedly summoned Chaitanya Baghel, son of the ex-Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel. The agency has called upon him to present himself for questioning on Tuesday, in relation to the scandalous multi-crore liquor affair in Chhattisgarh, reports and sources said.
The Enforcement Directorate’s team descended upon the residence of the former Chief Minister and his son in Padumnagar, Bhilai.
From early morning, the ED officials examined documents, employing machines to count currency and assay gold as sources and reports suggested.
Following an exhaustive eleven-hour inquisition, Bhupesh Baghel addressed the press, whilst his office chronicled the items seized by the Directorate on the X platform: “The Directorate has now departed, having discovered three items within the residence: Firstly, a pen drive containing details of transactions amounting to crores of rupees between Manturam and Dr Puneet Gupta (the son-in-law of Dr. Raman Singh). Secondly, documents pertaining to a shell company owned by Abhishek, the son of Dr. Raman Singh. Thirdly, details of farming, dairy, Stridhan (valuables with female members of the family), and ‘cash in hand’ amounting to approximately 33 lakh rupees, the account of which will be provided to the ED.”
The former Chief Minister’s office pointed out a significant detail: The Directorate officials have not provided any ECIR number.
While speaking to media through a televised conference the ex-Chief Minister proclaimed his fearlessness in the face of adversity, declaring, “I am neither daunted by defeat nor by death.”
Baghel attributed the ED’s actions to sheer frustration, asserting that they would stop at nothing. He lamented that posing questions in the state Assembly had become a transgression these days.
He recounted the plight of Kawasi Lakhma, who, upon raising a question in the state Assembly, found himself imprisoned by ED within a mere eight days.
The former Chief Minister expounded upon the investigation into the liquor scandal, which had persisted for three years without the ED presenting a final report or framing charges.
He alleged that his inquiry to his political opponent and sitting Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Vijay Sharma regarding the housing scheme for the impoverished during the on-going Budget session had precipitated the ED team’s visit to his residence within four days. The ED’s scrutiny of the property yielded documents, though none were confiscated.
Bhupesh Baghel revealed that a sum of Rs 33 lakh in cash was discovered during the raid, alongside his extensive holdings of over 150 acres of land and a thriving dairy enterprise.
He asserted that the funds were familial and business-related. With steadfast composure, Bhupesh Baghel maintained that the ED had unearthed nothing of concern.
He decried the raid as a mere ploy to malign his reputation.
–IANS
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