Congress MLAs suspended after din over ED raids on Baghel's home

Congress MLAs suspended in Chhattisgarh assembly after protesting ED raids on former CM Baghel's son in liquor scam case.

Several Congress MLAs were suspended from the Chhattisgarh assembly on Monday (March 10, 2025) after they trooped into its well and shouted slogans against the ruling BJP over the ED's raids on the premises of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

The Enforcement Directorate on Monday (March 10, 2025) raided the premises of Mr. Baghel as part of a money laundering investigation against his son in the alleged liquor scam case, official sources said.

The premises of Bhupesh Baghel's son — — in Bhillai (Durg district), an alleged close associate of Chaitanya Baghel, Laxmi Narayan Bansal alias Pappu Bansal, and some others were also being searched under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the sources said.

Mr. Chaitanya Baghel shares the Bhillai accommodation with his father, and hence the premises was being covered. He (Mr Chaitanya Baghel) is suspected to the "recipient" of the proceeds of crime of the liquor scam, they said.

About 14-15 premises are being raided in the state, they said.

As the House assembled for the day's business, Congress legislators disrupted the Question Hour and raised the issue of the ED's raid. They claimed that those questioning the alleged corruption in the government were being targeted using the central agency.

Congress members, including former Minister Umesh Patel, started raising slogans against the ruling BJP and claimed the democracy was being "murdered".