The Supreme Court has adjourned till January the plea filed by Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, challenging his arrest in the alleged liquor scam. The Court said the matter cannot be heard piecemeal and will take it up for detailed hearing in the first week of January.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday postponed the hearing of a petition filed by Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who has challenged his arrest in the alleged liquor scam in the State.
The top court said that the matter cannot be heard in parts and fixed the hearing for the first week of January next year.
Chaitanya Baghel was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 18 in connection with the alleged liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. Along with challenging his arrest, he has also questioned the validity of certain provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The case was heard by a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. When the hearing started, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chaitanya Baghel, raised serious concerns about the manner in which central investigating agencies are conducting arrests.
Kapil Sibal told the Bench,
“This can’t go on. It is all pick and choose. Once he is released and another warrant is issued. Open ended warrant is issued now. They arrest someone and keeps the probe on. Let no coercive steps be taken,”
while arguing that the agencies are repeatedly arresting individuals while continuing investigations without any finality.
Responding to these submissions, Advocate Zoheb Hossain, representing the Enforcement Directorate, informed the Court that Chaitanya Baghel’s bail application has already been heard by the Chhattisgarh High Court and the judgment is currently reserved.
Opposing the plea for protection, Zoheb Hossain said,
“What coercive steps when he is in custody? This is unheard of. He is seeking anticipatory bail in another case,”
and argued that the relief sought before the Supreme Court was not maintainable at this stage.
After hearing both sides, the Supreme Court observed that the matter involves multiple issues and cannot be decided in fragments. The Bench made it clear that the case would not be heard “piecemeal” and therefore adjourned the hearing to the first week of January.
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The Enforcement Directorate and other agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), are currently probing several alleged scams in Chhattisgarh.
These include cases linked to the Mahadev betting app, rice mill irregularities, and alleged coal, liquor, and District Mineral Foundation (DMF) scams. According to the agencies, these irregularities are said to have taken place during the tenure of Bhupesh Baghel as the Chief Minister of the State.
Chaitanya Baghel had earlier approached the Supreme Court after the Chhattisgarh High Court, on October 17, upheld his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate.
Apart from this, he has also filed a separate petition before the apex court challenging the constitutional validity of Section 50 of the PMLA and certain other provisions of the anti-money laundering law.
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It is also relevant to note that on August 4, the Supreme Court had strongly criticised the growing trend of influential and affluent persons directly approaching the apex court in criminal matters.
The Court had then advised former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his son to first approach the High Court in cases being investigated by central agencies instead of seeking direct relief from the Supreme Court.
The matter will now be taken up for detailed hearing by the Supreme Court in January next year.
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