ED, IT torturing people in name of questioning & raids: Chhattisgarh CM Baghel

Baghel in a series of tweets on Sunday said the central agencies are the strength of the people of the country and if the people are afraid of these agencies, then this negative power weakens the country

Raising questions over the interrogations by enforcement directorate (ED) and Income Tax (IT), Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in a series of tweets alleged that the central agencies are torturing people in Chhattisgarh in the name of raids and questioning.

The CM stated that he is getting complaints against ED and IT. (Facebook | Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel)

Baghel in a series of tweets on Sunday said the central agencies are the strength of the people of the country and if the people are afraid of these agencies, then this negative power weakens the country.

“Agencies like ED and Income Tax (IT) should take legal action against those involved in corruption, we welcome it but the way illegal activities are coming to the fore during the investigations by ED and IT, it is not at all acceptable,” Baghel tweeted.

The CM further stated that he is getting complaints against ED and IT.

“…While summoning people like picking them up from their homes, forcing people to make confessions by thrashing them, threatening them to be locked up in jail for life, keeping them without food and water till late night are being received,” Baghel said.

“Without informing the local police, they are raiding along with the CRPF. Authorities have complained that some people are being beaten by rods, some have broken legs and some have lost their hearing. The people of the state are very angry due to these incidents. To fulfill the political conspiracy, the game of creating false cases is being played,” Baghel said.

The officials have been directed to inform the government of India about these incidents and stop illegal acts, the CM mentioned in his tweets.

“Whoever is being interrogated, it should be videographed. We will fully cooperate in the legal investigation. If we receive such complaints further, then the state police will be forced to take legal action. We are committed to the safety of our citizens,” he said.

The state has been witnessing ED raids for the past two months.

In October, ED arrested an IAS officer Sameer Bisnoi and others after the agency launched multi-city raids in the state.

The ED had in a statement claimed that a “massive scam” was taking place in coal transportation in Chhattisgarh, under which a “cartel” of politicians, officers and others was allegedly running a “parallel system of extorting illegal levy”, which is generating about ₹2-3 crore daily.