New Delhi [India], July 18 : After the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's son Chaitanya Baghel, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate on Friday alleged "political vendetta and witchhunt" by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against opposition leaders.
Labelling the charges levelled by the ED as "false and fabricated", she said that Baghel and his family will not be intimidated.
"I believe that the political vendetta and witchhunt is of the worst kind, which is happening in India. When you cannot catch leaders, you go after their kith and kin. ED has not done this for the first time. It has happened repeatedly. The law will take its course. However, neither Bhupesh Baghel nor his family will be intimidated by these fabricated and false charges," Shrinate told ANI.
Her remarks come after the arrest of Chaitanya Baghel in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged multi-crore liquor scam in the state.
The action comes a few hours after the agency carried out raids at Chaitanya's residence in Chhattisgarh's Raipur. The searches were part of the agency's broader crackdown on suspected money laundering and irregularities linked to the multi-crore scam.
Following the raids, Bhupesh Baghel's office posted on X, "ED has arrived. Today is the last day of the Assembly session. The issue of trees being cut in Tamnar for Adani was supposed to be raised today. 'Saheb' has sent the ED to the Bhilai residence."
The move comes months after the investigative agency seized Rs 30 lakh, which was allegedly recovered from the residence of Bhupesh Baghel and his son, Chaitanya, in March.
The amount was recovered during a day-long search operation conducted at a total of 14 locations across Chhattisgarh in the case pertaining to alleged irregularities in the liquor trade in Chhattisgarh, involving suspected illegal commissions and money laundering.
ED has alleged that Chaitanya Baghel is also "a recipient of proceeds of crime generated from the liquor scam, wherein total proceeds of crime is around Rs 2,161 crore siphoned off through various schemes."
Speaking to reporters outside his residence, the former CM alleged that the centre was targeting opposition leaders.
"A matter related to Adani has come up. To make him happy, Modi & Shah have sent the ED (Enforcement Directorate) to my residence. We will not be scared. We will not bow down before them. They are targeting all opposition leaders in the country. ED had visited my residence earlier as well. We will fully cooperate with the agencies. We have faith in democracy and the judiciary," he claimed.