The Chhattisgarh High Court has approved bail for Chaitanya Baghel, the son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in two significant cases related to a multi-crore liquor scam. Chaitanya Baghel, who has been in judicial custody for an extended period, is now set to be released pending compliance with the court’s bail conditions. Justice Arvind Kumar Verma, in a single bench ruling, granted bail to Baghel in both the money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the corruption case under investigation by the state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offences Wing (ACB/EOW).
The court’s decision, which came after detailed arguments from both sides and a reserved verdict on December 19, 2025, marks a significant development in the legal proceedings. Chaitanya Baghel was initially arrested by the ED in July 2025 in connection with alleged money laundering associated with the liquor scam that reportedly occurred between 2019 and 2022 during his father’s tenure. Following this, he faced another arrest by the ACB/EOW in September 2025 on charges of corruption and criminal conspiracy.
Allegations by the ED suggest that Chaitanya Baghel played a pivotal role in a liquor syndicate, managing nearly Rs 1,000 crore in illicit funds and channeling them through real estate ventures. The agency claims that this illegal operation led to substantial financial losses for the state due to unauthorized commissions on liquor sales. Similarly, the ACB/EOW has accused Baghel of receiving a share ranging from Rs 200 crore to Rs 250 crore while overseeing the syndicate with high-level protection.
During the bail hearings, Baghel’s legal representatives argued against the constitutionality of the ED and ACB/EOW’s actions, citing procedural irregularities and alleging political motives behind the legal actions. They also pointed out previous court observations of irregularities, though not illegalities, in the arrest procedures. The alleged liquor scam, valued at over Rs 3,000 crore with potential proceeds exceeding Rs 3,500 crore, involves claims of illegal holograms, unrecorded liquor production, and diversion of excise revenue.
Multiple individuals, including politicians, officials, and businessmen, have been named in the charge sheets related to the case. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has consistently denied any involvement in the scandal, labeling the investigations as an abuse of central agencies. With bail granted in both cases, Chaitanya Baghel is expected to be released from custody soon, while investigations into the matter continue.
