TFP Bureau, Raipur, July 22, 2025: Public life across Chhattisgarh, from Raipur to the remote tribal belts of Bastar, is expected to face significant disruption this afternoon as the Congress party stages a two-hour statewide road blockade in protest against the arrest of Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
The protest, scheduled between 12 noon and 2 pm, will affect key national highways, city intersections, toll plazas, and flyovers in all 33 districts of the state. Congress has called the arrest “an act of political vendetta” and is mobilising workers in large numbers to halt traffic at major points across Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Bastar, and Surguja divisions.
Key Traffic Disruption Points Identified
In Raipur, blockades are expected at Shriram Mandir Chowk, Currency Tower, Abhanpur Toll Plaza, Magneto Mall, and Arang Toll. In Bilaspur, Congress workers will gather at the Sakri flyover, while in Jagdalpur, a demonstration is planned at Amaguda Chowk.
The party has assured that essential services, including school buses and ambulances, will be exempted from the protest. However, common commuters, office-goers, and traders may still face widespread inconvenience.
The ED Case Against Chaitanya Baghel
Chaitanya Baghel was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 18 in Bhilai. The central agency alleges he received ₹16.70 crore in cash and invested it in real estate, claiming the funds were part of a larger liquor scam involving over ₹1,000 crore in alleged financial irregularities.
The ED has named other individuals in the case, including Anwar Dhebar, Deepen Chawda, KK Srivastava, and Pappu Bansal. Notably, Bansal is said to have confessed to making ₹136 crore in just three months.
Congress Terms Arrest as Political Conspiracy
Senior Congress leaders, including Deepak Baij, Charandas Mahant, TS Singhdeo, and Bhupesh Baghel himself, are spearheading the agitation. The party has also deployed 12 senior leaders as district in-charges to coordinate the protest on the ground.
Chaitanya’s lawyer Faizal Rizvi argued in court that his client was neither summoned nor questioned prior to the arrest, calling it a violation of legal procedure.
As the political heat rises in Chhattisgarh, today’s protest signals a sharp escalation in tensions between the Congress and the central investigative agencies.
