Bhilai (Chhattisgarh) [India], March 27 (HBTV): A large number of supporters gathered outside the residence of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches in connection with the Mahadev betting app case. The CBI team arrived at his residence and carried out searches for 14 hours.

Speaking to the media, Baghel stated that the CBI had visited his residence for the second time in 15 days, conducting raids not just in Durg but across multiple locations in India. He emphasized that despite taking strict action against the Mahadev betting app, key accused Saurabh Chandrakar had not been arrested, even though a lookout circular had been issued.

Baghel alleged that the raid was politically motivated, suggesting it was orchestrated to provide content for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech ahead of his visit on March 30.

'Fifteen days ago, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a thorough raid, so what more could the CBI uncover now?' he said. He also revealed that the CBI had taken original documents from his residence and, despite his request, did not provide photocopies. He asserted that had action been taken in time, 'submitting the required documents would have been beneficial.'

The CBI confiscated three of his phones and clarified that if anything was found at his Raipur residence, he would not be responsible. He further claimed that officers who had acted against the Mahadev betting app were being targeted through these raids. Additionally, he stated that neither he nor his family had received any summons or official notices regarding the investigation.

In a recent development, Congress leader Sushil Anand Shukla accused the BJP of using central agencies against the former chief minister, claiming it was an attempt to disrupt his scheduled trip to Delhi.

Similarly, Congress MP K. Suresh accused the BJP of using central agencies, including the CBI, ED, and Income Tax department, against opposition leaders.

Earlier on Wednesday, Baghel was set to travel to Delhi for a meeting of the All India Congress Committee's Drafting Committee, scheduled for April 8 and 9 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Taking to social media, Baghel's office posted on X: 'Now CBI has come. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is scheduled to go to Delhi today for the meeting of the "Drafting Committee" constituted for the AICC meeting to be held in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) on April 8 and 9. Even before that, the CBI had reached Raipur and Bhilai residences.'

On March 10, the ED conducted searches at the residence of Bhupesh Baghel, his son Chaitanya Baghel, and others in connection with an ongoing probe into the alleged multi-crore liquor scam.

In a post on X, Baghel stated: 'ED has left the house. They found three things in my house—a pen drive containing a conversation about a transaction of crores between Manturam and Dr. Puneet Gupta (Dr. Raman Singh's son-in-law), papers of SAIL company of Dr. Raman Singh's son Abhishek Singh.'

'The total of farming, dairy, stridhan, and cash in hand in the entire joint family is about INR 33 lakh, the account of which will be given to them. The main thing is that ED officials have not been able to provide any ECIR number,' he said.

However, Baghel refuted reports of the ED summoning his son Chaitanya Baghel, calling it a 'conspiracy' by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to 'defame' leaders.

'No notice has been received, so there is no question of appearing anywhere. We will certainly appear before them once we receive a notice. No notice has been received yet. ED's job is to create a deliberate media hype. Agencies are used to defame other individuals. That is what they have done so far. This is a conspiracy by the BJP to defame leaders,' Baghel told reporters.

The ED has alleged that a cartel of government officials, politicians, and liquor businessmen ran a scheme that illegally collected around INR 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, with a cartel controlling the sale and distribution of alcohol through government-run shops.

The agency had earlier conducted multiple raids, including on politicians and bureaucrats linked to the previous Congress-led government in Chhattisgarh. (ANI)