Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], July 18 (ANI): Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel on Friday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, thanking them for the Enforcement Directorate raids at his residence and those of his aides, calling the actions 'gifts'.

In a post on X, the Congress leader said, The kind of birthday gift that Modi and Shah ji give, no one else in any democracy in the world can give. On my birthday, both highly respected leaders sent ED to the homes of my advisor and two OSDs.'

'And now, on my son Chaitanya's birthday, an ED team is raiding my house. Thank you for these gifts. They will be remembered for a lifetime,' he added.

https://x.com/bhupeshbaghel/status/1946071315598971151

Speaking to reporters outside his resident 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

This came after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at the premises of Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged multi-crore liquor scam in the state.

The searches are 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 agency, in March this year, seized Rs 30 lakh from the residence of Bhupesh Baghel and his son Chaitanya. The amount was recovered during a day-long search operation conducted at a total of 14 locations across Chhattisgarh, pertaining to alleged irregularities in the liquor trade, involving suspected illegal commissions and money laundering.

ED has gathered that Chaitanya Baghel is also 'a recipient of proceeds of crime generated from the liquor scam, wherein the total proceeds of crime are around Rs 2,161 crores syphoned off through various schemes.'

Reacting to the raid, Bhupesh Baghel's office posted on 'X,' saying, 'When the false case going on for seven years was dismissed in the court, today the guests of ED entered the Bhilai residence of former Chief Minister and Congress General Secretary Bhupesh Baghel this morning. If someone is trying to stop Congress in Punjab through this conspiracy, then it is a misunderstanding.'

The ED has alleged that a cartel of government officials, politicians, and liquor businessmen ran a scheme that illegally collected around Rs 2,161 crore from the sale of liquor in the state between 2019 and 2022. The alleged scam involved manipulation of the liquor supply chain, where a cartel controlled the sale and distribution of alcohol through government-run shops.

A portion of liquor sold was not accounted for in official records, and bribes were allegedly collected from suppliers to allow its sale outside the legal system.

The investigation is based on an earlier report by the Income Tax Department, which flagged irregularities in the liquor trade. (ANI)