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Two Delhi ministers, including the then Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, are in jail courtesy the Enforcement Directorate in the alleged liquor scam for which the agency has not produced a shred of evidence. Several Congressmen in Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh, etc, have changed sides fearing ED raids and exposure, but there is one state and its Congress leadership targeted by the ED for the past two years which has remained steadfastly beyond its tentacles. Chhattisgarh and its chief minister Bhupesh Baghel are living examples of how to beat the ED and still manage to win

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Bupesh Baghel

By Neeraj Mishra

There is more than meets the eye in the failure of searches and seizures in the Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam (Delhi in comparison is a mere Rs 100 crore) and alleged mining scam in Chhattisgarh. The Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department have been operating relentlessly in the state for the past two years with the prime target being Bhupesh Baghel, euphemistically mentioned as “highest political authority” in its chargesheets. But till date, not only have the two government agencies miserably failed despite attaching properties worth over Rs 1,200 crore, but are now actually scraping the bottom of the barrel arresting and invading minor rice millers.

The major accused have all got bail or prevention from arrest orders from the Supreme Court unlike Delhi ministers. Anwar Dhebar, an alleged kingpin in the excise and mining game and alleged money bag of Baghel, first obtained bail from the High Court and then got it confirmed from the Supreme Court. Anil Tuteja, now a retired IAS officer, could never be arrested despite several raids and he finally obtained a prevention from arrest orders, somehow akin to anticipatory bail. The ED raids had begun with much fanfare early in 2022, with the mining department as the main target. Mining Director Bishnoi, IAS, was arrested and is still behind bars. Then several small fry in the mining department were raided and arrested, but nothing led to Baghel. Finally Ranu Sahu, IAS, was also arrested and is still in jail.

Meanwhile, businessman Surya Tiwari and Baghel’s OSD Saumya Chaurasia were also picked up with allegations that they were close to Baghel and had some unexplained cash and properties. Later, several liquor barons and dealers were raided and arrested, but nothing came of it. This whole drama kept playing out over months with much fanfare. The local BJP kept praying that ED and IT will manage something that they have not been able to dislodge Baghel from his chair.

After almost a year it turned out in Tuteja’s case in the Supreme Court that the ED did not even have the basic legal rights to proceed in the excise case. For the ED to jump into any case with its PMLA, there has to be a predicate offence or a case registered in a thana or a court under relevant sections of the IPC. It had been proceeding on the basis of information provided by the IT department about some WhatsApp conversations between the accused. The Supreme Court dismissed the case though some accused continue to be in custody due to other charges. After the Supreme Court’s judgment, the ED rapidly registered a case of fraudulent 3D stickers provided to the Excise department by a Noida manufacturer in which it named amongst others, Tuteja, excise commissioner and some bottlers. The proceeds of fake liquor bottles sold as excise paid liquor was frowned upon by the Supreme Court as an afterthought. Though the Supreme Court itself is still lingering over the case as it has been for the past two years under three different chief justices.

What is most mysterious, however, is the ease with which Baghel and company have got away so far in the current atmosphere of raids and counter allegations. There are two logical conclusions that come to mind. First, all accused have stood by Baghel and have refused to name him as a collaborator or recipient of benefits under either the excise or mining scams. It shows how he has built loyalty over his tenure. He has also steadfastly refused to order enquiries against all the officers arrested by the ED though they have been suspended under the DOPT rules. The second theory is that Baghel has some backers with the BJP system and despite Amit Shah’s obvious dislike for him, he has continued to thrive.

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BJP says it stands for credibility of promises under PM Modi, Congress for crisis

Trivedi mockingly questioned whether Kharge was truthful in his statements made the previous day, implying that his critiques of the BJP were a reaction driven by pressure to reconcile his earlier remarks.

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The BJP said on Saturday that it stood for the credibility of promises made under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, while labeling the Congress party as one suffering from a crisis of credibility, intensifying their ongoing rhetorical conflict over unfulfilled electoral pledges.

BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said that the ruling party has expanded its welfare initiatives, including health insurance, free food grains, and cash transfers to farmers, emphasising a strategy focused on wealth creation followed by equitable distribution as the Indian economy has grown over the last decade.

“We believe in the creation of wealth and its distribution. The Congress fosters corruption and depletes wealth,” he stated, referencing numerous unfulfilled promises made by Congress-led governments across various states.

Following Mallikarjun Kharge’s remark labeling “Modi ki guarantee” as a cruel joke after Modi seized Kharge’s guidance on budgetary constraints in state poll announcements, the BJP launched new accusations.

Trivedi mockingly questioned whether Kharge was truthful in his statements made the previous day, implying that his critiques of the BJP were a reaction driven by pressure to reconcile his earlier remarks.

Trivedi highlighted several accomplishments of the Modi government, including the construction of the Ram temple, the abrogation of Article 370, the building of over 14 crore homes for the impoverished, the establishment of more than 51 crore Jan Dhan accounts, and a firm stance against terrorism from Pakistan, to demonstrate the government’s fulfillment of its commitments.

He noted that Kharge, having witnessed notable leaders like PV Narasimha Rao and Pranab Mukherjee manage economic challenges effectively, is now observing the Congress party struggling under the influence of urban Naxals due to Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

Addressing Kharge’s criticisms on various issues, Trivedi pointed to data from the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) indicating a rise in account holders from 11 crore to 25 crore over the past decade.

He also referenced significant infrastructure projects, such as the construction of homes for the poor, 74 new airports, and an impressive pace of 37 kilometers of road built per day, claiming that these initiatives have created substantial employment opportunities.

“India is now ranked third in auto manufacturing and second in mobile phone manufacturing; if anyone is unable to recognize the country’s progress, there is a profound deficiency in their perspective,” asserted the BJP spokesperson.

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Maharashtra elections: Congress says Mahayuti understands its exit is certain

Congress leader Sachin Pilot, also an observer of the Congress party for the Maharashtra elections, said that the ruling Mahayuti alliance is aware that its exit is imminent.      

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The Congress on Wednesday asserted the ruling Mahayuti government in Maharashtra has understood that its exit is certain as the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance is strong and that all its candidates are in a strong position for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot, also an observer of the Congress party for the Maharashtra elections, said that the ruling Mahayuti alliance is aware that its exit is imminent.      

The Congress leader stated that the party is fully prepared and that its ally parties in Maharashtra are strong. He mentioned that the seat-sharing negotiations occurred in a positive atmosphere and that the ruling party has recognized that their exit is inevitable.

“All the candidates of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are in a strong position. The people here have decided to support Congress and its allies in the upcoming Assembly elections,” he said.

He also noted that the alliance’s performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections was impressive. “Wherever Congress contested, our candidates won 80 percent of the seats. We expect this trend to continue,” he added.

Pilot acknowledged that there have been some differences among party members regarding specific seats but assured that those issues would be resolved in the next 2-3 days, ensuring there would be only one candidate from the MVA for each seat.

Earlier in the day, Ramesh Chennithala, Congress in charge of Maharashtra, slammed the BJP, claiming that the party is undermining its alliances in the state.

“The BJP is dismantling its alliances. They are forcefully converting alliance partner candidates into their own party candidates. The people will respond to this,” he stated while speaking to reporters.

Earlier on October 26, Chennithala alleged that crores of rupees have been reportedly offered to two of its MLAs to join Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction, ahead of state Assembly elections.

Chennithala made those allegations while speaking to reporters in the national capital. He also questioned the Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Voting for all 288 constituencies for the Maharashtra Assembly elections are set for November 20 and counting on November 23. In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42.

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Rahul Gandhi not upset, Opposition spreading fake news: NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh

“Opposition parties are spreading false information. It is not true that Rahul Gandhi is upset with leaders in the State,” he said.

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Asserting that Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was not upset with the Maharashtra unit, NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh on Saturday accused the Mahayuti of spreading fake news over the issue of seat-sharing in the state.

Deshmukh mentioned that meetings between leaders of Congress in Maharashtra, including Balasaheb Thorat, Nana Patole, and Vijay Wadettiwar, and representatives of NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT), went well.

“Rahul Gandhi is not upset. Leaders like Balasaheb Thorat, Nana Patole and Vijay Wadettiwar all had meetings with leaders of NCP-SCP and Shiv Sena (UBT). We had taken the decision regarding seat sharing based on merit,” the NCP(SP) leader said.

He further clarified that the decision on seat sharing was made based on merit, countering the false information being spread by Opposition parties. Deshmukh also dispelled the notion that Rahul Gandhi was upset with the state leaders.

“Opposition parties are spreading false information. It is not true that Rahul Gandhi is upset with leaders in the State,” he said.

Furthermore, in preparation for the upcoming Assembly polls in Maharashtra, Congress released its second list of 23 candidates on Saturday.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has concluded talks on sharing seats in 255 constituencies, with each party planning to contest 85 Assembly constituencies, as informed by Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole.

On the same day, the BJP released a list of 40 star campaigners, including prominent party leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party chief Jagat Prakash Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The other leaders from the saffron party — Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Assam Chief Minister Hemant Biswa Sarma, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav, Smriti Irani, Piyush Goyal, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Pramod Sawant were in the list.

The list also includes names of prominent leaders from the State — Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, Vinod Tawde, Narayan Rane, Pankaja Munde, Chandrakant (Dada) Patil, Girish Mahajan, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Ashish Shelar, Udayan Raje Bhonsle, Raosaheb Danve Patil, Ashok Chavan, Sudhir Mugantiwar, Navneet Rana, among others.

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