ED Raids Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel’s Residence in Money Laundering Probe

Raipur, 11th March 2025: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a raid at the residence of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in connection with an alleged money laundering case.

Baghel stated that he resides in the house with his wife, son, three daughters, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.

Sharing details on X, Baghel outlined what the agency discovered during the search: a pen drive containing a conversation regarding financial dealings between Manturam and Puneet Gupta (son-in-law of former CM Raman Singh), documents linked to the SAIL company associated with Abhishek Singh (son of Raman Singh), and a total of ₹33 lakh in cash. He attributed this amount to earnings from agriculture, dairy farming, and family savings.

Recalling the incident, Baghel said, “I was reading the newspaper while having tea when the ED team arrived. I welcomed them and told them I had been expecting this for months, even years. My family, including my wife, daughters, son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren, live here. We own 140 acres of farmland and engage in agriculture. The money they found belonged to my family members—my wife, son, daughter-in-law, and daughters. We earn from farming and dairy, and the amount also includes streedhan (jewelry).”

Baghel accused the agency of attempting to create a spectacle by bringing note-counting machines.

“They wanted to create an atmosphere as if a massive sum had been recovered. I don’t think ₹33 lakh is a significant amount. It’s clear that questioning the government in the Vidhan Sabha has now become a crime,” he remarked.

The raid was carried out at Baghel’s residence in Bhilai, Durg district, as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged liquor scam. The ED also searched the premises of Baghel’s son, Chaitanya Baghel.

Additionally, locations linked to Laxmi Narayan Bansal, also known as Pappu Bansal—a close associate of Chaitanya Baghel—were searched under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.