Storm brewing over Chhattisgarh ‘liquor scam’

There are apprehensions that the probe of the Enforcement Directorate may reach Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

With Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh less than six months away, the liquor scam is likely to snowball into a major political controversy in the state. In anticipation of the political storm, the Congress has already appointed senior leader T.S. Singh Deo as deputy chief minister.
There are apprehensions that the probe of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) may reach Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The probe agency in Delhi is said to be analysing the details to decide on the future course of action. The ED tightened its noose around two Delhi government ministers only after collecting “solid” evidence.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his rally in Chhattisgarh on Friday referred to the liquor scam in what is being seen as a signal that those involved in it will not be spared. The Aam Aadmi Party, which is also facing liquor scam charges in Delhi, is attacking the Baghel government in Chhattisgarh. Dy CM Manish Sisodia is in jail due to his alleged involvement in liquor scam in Delhi. Satyendra Jain, who was also a minister of the Delhi government, is in jail over a money laundering case. Both have been denied bails.
The matter is quite serious in Chhattisgarh. ED has claimed that the total loss to the state exchequer was to the tune of Rs 2,161 crore. The scam happened between 2019 and 2023. The agency has tightened its grip on some Congress leaders as well. Some highly-placed officers have also been named. The ED has submitted a 1,300-page report in the court. BJP senior leader Ravi Shankar Prasad has linked Chief Minister Baghel to the liquor scam, following which political mercury has risen.
However, nothing concrete has surfaced against Baghel so far. Congress is viewing it all as part of the Central government’s alleged conspiracy to dislodge the elected-governments of other parties in the state. Baghel is saying that the ED should raid big industrialists. According to sources, Congress decided to appoint Singh Deo as Dy Chief Minister on the basis of a report from stare in-charge Kumari Selja. Deo has a spotless image.
Congress is in fact apprehensive that the Central government may get Chief Minister Baghel arrested as elections approach near. However, it will be interesting to see whether the Enforcement Directorate quizzes and arrests Baghel just four months ahead of Assembly elections. Observers believe that the BJP will take any step only after “analysing pros and cons of any action like this”.