On Wednesday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) carried out searches at the residences of Bhupesh Baghel, the former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, located in Raipur and Bhilai. This move is tied to the investigation into the Mahadev betting app case, which allegedly involves a network of illegal betting operations and money laundering activities. The CBI’s actions come shortly after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had conducted its own series of raids in the region.
CBI Conducts a Raid at his Residence
Bhupesh Baghel had been scheduled to attend an important meeting in Delhi related to the upcoming All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting in Ahmedabad. However, the CBI reached his residences before his departure, as confirmed by his office in a post on social media. Despite the investigation, Baghel’s team maintains that the Congress party remains unfazed by these repeated actions.
The Mahadev betting app case has drawn significant attention due to its large scale, with estimates suggesting that the illegal betting syndicate may have laundered around Rs 6,000 crore. The app is accused of facilitating money laundering by using complex networks of ‘benami’ bank accounts. The CBI took over the investigation from the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Chhattisgarh Police, which had earlier named Bhupesh Baghel among those under scrutiny. The Congress leader, however, dismissed these allegations, calling them politically motivated.
ED Targets Baghel’s Famliy, Congress Slams BJP
This raid follows a series of actions by the Enforcement Directorate related to a liquor scam. The ED’s investigation alleges that the scam resulted in a loss of Rs 2,161 crore to the Chhattisgarh state exchequer. As part of the probe, the ED had previously raided locations connected to Baghel’s family, including the residence of his son, Chaitanya Baghel, accusing him of receiving illicit funds. Congress leaders, including T. S. Singh Deo, have criticized the use of central agencies by the BJP, claiming that these actions are an attempt to tarnish Baghel’s image and divert attention from governance issues in the state.
The political ramifications of these raids are already being felt, as Congress leaders allege that the BJP is using central agencies as a tool to target political opponents rather than address the public’s concerns. The full scope of the ongoing investigations remains unclear, but the Mahadev betting app and the liquor scam have become key focal points of scrutiny.
