"I would like to thank PM, Shah:" Chhattisgarh CM hits out at Centre over ED raids at his political advisor's residence
Aug 23, 2023
Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], August 23 : Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bupesh Baghel on Wednesday took a dig at the Central Government after Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the residences of his political advisor and Officers on Special Duty (OSD) and 'thanked' Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the 'birthday gift'.
"When the Congress's national session was held in Raipur then also ED raided those officials who were busy in the management of the event for three continuous days. Today it's my birthday and ED has raided my OSD who looks after my work. Another one, my political advisor has also been raided. They didn't even leave one of my family friends who's seriously ill and his wife is also ill. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave me this birthday gift. I would like to thank them," Baghel said while talking to ANI.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi had wished CM Baghel on his birthday.
Congress General Secretary, KC Venugopal also condemned the Enforcement Directorate raids on the staff of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in connection with the alleged liquor scam.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, he posted, "Strongly condemn the ED raids on the staff members of Chhattisgarh CM Sh. @bhupeshbaghel ji. Completely out of the race in the upcoming elections, the BJP is trying its dirtiest tricks to intimidate and rattle the Congress. However, we have the support of 3 crore Chhattisgarhis and such cheap tactics will not affect us, but they only show the BJP’s desperation".
The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday carried out searches at the residences of the Chhattisgarh CM's political advisor Vinod Verma and OSD's Manish Banchhor and Ashish Verma in connection with the alleged liquor scam. Searches were also conducted by the agency at the premises of a businessman in Durg.
ED investigation earlier claimed that in the years -- 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the illegal sale of liquor was almost 30-40 per cent of the total sale of liquor in the State. This allegedly generated Rs 1,200-1,500-crore illegal profits.
