Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday refuted reports that his son, Chaitanya Baghel, had been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged liquor scam linked to a money laundering case in the state. Baghel stated that his son had not received any official notice from the central agency to appear before it.

Media personnel gathered outside the Baghel residence in Bhilai (Durg district) and the ED office in Raipur amid speculation that Chaitanya had been called to record his statement on Saturday. When asked if his son would appear before the ED, Baghel responded, “The question of going to the ED office does not arise if no notice has been received. When summons are served, they will be complied with.”

Speaking to reporters outside his home, Baghel accused the ED of creating unnecessary media hype and being used as a tool to defame political opponents. “It is the ED’s job to create a media frenzy. The agency is being misused to tarnish reputations. They have been doing this for years. I was implicated in a CD case for seven years, but the court recently discharged me of all charges. This is a BJP conspiracy to malign politicians,” he said.

On March 10, the ED conducted searches at Baghel’s residence in Bhilai and 13 other locations, including the premises of Laxmi Narayan Bansal, alias Pappu Bansal, an alleged associate of Chaitanya. The raids, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), lasted about eight hours, during which the agency reportedly seized ₹30 lakh in cash and several documents.

The alleged liquor scam, as per the ED, took place between 2019 and 2022 during the Congress government’s tenure in Chhattisgarh, led by Baghel. The agency claims the scam caused a massive loss to the state exchequer, with over ₹2,100 crore in illicit gains allegedly funneled to a liquor syndicate.

Following the searches, unconfirmed reports emerged that Chaitanya had been summoned to appear before the ED on March 15. Baghel, who was present during the raids, dismissed the ED’s actions as a result of the BJP’s frustration.

The Congress party has strongly opposed the ED’s actions, with party workers burning effigies of the BJP-led central government and the ED on March 11 in protest. The party has accused the BJP of using central agencies to target political opponents and undermine democracy.

Punjab Police have arrested three individuals linked to the murder of Mangat Rai, the Moga district president of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, officials confirmed on Saturday. The suspects were apprehended following an exchange of gunfire with police in Malout, Muktsar district.

Rai, 52, was shot dead late on Thursday night while stepping out of his house to buy groceries. According to police, three unidentified assailants attacked Rai around 10 pm. The first bullet missed him but struck a 12-year-old boy who was caught in the line of fire. Rai attempted to flee the scene on his two-wheeler but was pursued by the attackers, who fired again, this time fatally injuring him.

Rai was rushed to a hospital by police, where he was declared dead. The injured boy is currently receiving medical treatment.

While investigators suspect the murder may be the result of a personal rivalry, Rai’s family has denied any enmity, stating that he had no conflicts with anyone.

The arrests mark a significant breakthrough in the case, with police continuing to probe the motive behind the attack.

In a bid to escape, Rai attempted to flee on his motorcycle, but the assailants pursued him and fired again, ultimately hitting him. Despite being rushed to a hospital by the police, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Investigators are considering the possibility that the murder was the result of a personal rivalry; however, Rai’s family members have asserted that he had no known enemies. The police continue to gather evidence and investigate the circumstances surrounding this alarming incident.

A video of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA Tej Pratap Yadav, son of former Union Minister Lalu Yadav, has gone viral on social media, showing him pressuring an on-duty police officer to dance during Holi celebrations at his residence in Patna.

In the clip, Yadav is seen threatening the officer with suspension if he refused to dance, leading to widespread criticism from political opponents.

The video captures Yadav, smeared with colors, singing a song and instructing the policeman to dance. He is heard saying, “I will play a song, and you will have to dance. If you don’t, you will be suspended.”

Yadav further added, “Ek ganna bajayenge, usme tumko thumka lagana hai, bura mat mano Holi hai. Aaj nahi thumka lagaoge toh suspend kar diye jaoge” (We will play a song, and you will have to dance to it. Don’t feel bad, it’s Holi. If you don’t dance today, you will be suspended). The policeman eventually complies, dancing as Yadav sings.

The incident has drawn sharp reactions from political leaders, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain condemning Yadav’s behavior. “He asked his bodyguard to dance; otherwise, he would suspend him. He has no power or authority to suspend anyone. This is Nitish Kumar’s government, not Jungle Raj. Using such language is unfortunate. RJD leaders have not evolved,” Hussain stated.

Janata Dal (United) (JDU) spokesperson Arvind Nishad also criticized Yadav, linking the incident to the past governance of Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi. “The order given by MLA Tej Pratap Yadav to the police personnel assigned to his security to dance while on duty is a reminder of the Lalu-Rabri regime. His threats and actions are inappropriate. The way Holi was celebrated during their rule and how he recreated that chaos truly brings back memories of those days. In today’s governance, it is unimaginable how someone can behave in such a manner,” Nishad remarked.