The Rs 4,000-crore liquor scandal that has rocked Chhattisgarh has drawn widespread attention due to its high-profile nature and the scale of corruption it allegedly encompasses. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been closely involved in investigating the case, and their focus has now shifted to Bhupesh Baghel, the former Chief Minister. The investigation traces a web of illegal financial transactions that seem to have flourished under his leadership, as well as potential misuse of power within the state government.
The origins of the scam go back to the issuance of liquor licenses, which were allegedly manipulated through backdoor deals. As the ED has uncovered, many of the individuals who benefited from these deals had close ties to political figures in Chhattisgarh, including Baghel’s government. Using sophisticated methods of financial forensics, the ED has managed to trace illicit money flows and identify key players in the scam, leading them to focus on Bhupesh Baghel as a central figure in the case.