Durg, Chhattisgarh – Former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, has accused the central government of denying him permission to visit his son, Chaitanya Baghel, in jail during Diwali. Baghel alleges that this denial is a result of political vendetta, stemming from his opposition to certain industrial projects.
Chaitanya Baghel is currently imprisoned in Raipur Central Jail in connection to an alleged liquor scam. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 18, 2025, which coincided with his birthday. The ED alleges that Chaitanya is a recipient of "proceeds of crime" from the scam, which purportedly siphoned off approximately ₹2,161 crore between 2019 and 2022 during the Congress government. Specifically, investigators claim Chaitanya received ₹16.70 crore in cash from the syndicate, which he then allegedly used for real estate ventures through benami transactions. He was later re-arrested in September and placed in police remand until early October.
Bhupesh Baghel, speaking to ANI, expressed his frustration, stating that prisoners are typically allowed to meet their families during festivals such as Raksha Bandhan, Eid and Diwali, but he is being denied this right. He contrasted the current situation with previous governments, recalling that when his father was in jail 20 years ago, the entire family was permitted to visit him during Diwali. He sees the denial as a targeted attack for his opposition to industrial projects, specifically mentioning his protest against Adani's tree cutting in Tamnar.
Baghel stated, "My son is in jail due to the grace of Amit Shah and Narendra Modi". He further lamented that even other relatives are not being allowed to visit his son, calling it "very unfortunate" that family members are restricted from meeting their loved ones in jail during Diwali in Chhattisgarh.
Notably, the barrack in Raipur Central Jail where Chaitanya is currently lodged has housed three generations of the Baghel family. Bhupesh Baghel himself was imprisoned there in 2017 during the alleged sex CD scandal, and his father, Nand Kumar Baghel, was also jailed in the same barrack in 2021 for controversial remarks against Brahmins.
The Congress party has also rallied in support of Bhupesh Baghel, decrying Chaitanya's arrest as "political vendetta and witch-hunt of the worst kind". Congress MP Shaktisinh Gohil stated that the family is being targeted to emotionally blackmail Bhupesh Baghel, but asserted that Baghel would not be intimidated.
Bhupesh Baghel has claimed that the ED's actions are an attempt to prevent him from raising the issue in the Assembly of trees being felled for a coal mine project by the Adani Group. He alleges that his son's arrest was meant to send a message to anyone opposing the government.
