Today, On 31st October, The Supreme Court issued notice on the bail plea of Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, in the alleged multi-crore liquor scam case, directing the Enforcement Directorate to file its reply within ten days.
The Supreme Court on Friday took up the bail plea filed by Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in connection with the alleged multi-crore liquor scam case.
The matter was heard by a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi.
Senior Advocates N Hariharan and Kapil Sibal appeared on behalf of the petitioner.
Opening the arguments, Hariharan submitted,
“We were remanded back to the High Court. There were two key issues, one relating to the challenge against the grounds of arrest, and the fact that the investigation doesn’t seem to end at all even after cognizance has already been taken.”
Kapil Sibal followed, arguing that the arrest itself was unjustified under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
He said,
“I was never summoned. They claim non-cooperation as a ground for arrest, which is not permissible under Section 19 of the PMLA. I must first be called and my statement recorded, they cannot arrest me merely for alleged non-cooperation without doing so.”
At this point, Justice Surya Kant observed,
“That’s not the only ground mentioned.”
Sibal countered, saying,
“The rest are mere allegations. The real legal issue is that they file the complaint but don’t seek the court’s permission, thereby delaying the trial and keeping me in custody.”
Justice Joymalya Bagchi remarked that the issue also involved a deeper legal interpretation.
“The concern here is not merely about the grounds of arrest, but about how Section 190 is to be interpreted how long can an investigation continue?”
Appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju informed the Court,
“This Court had granted me three months to complete the investigation.”
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Hariharan then urged the bench,
“Can we seek an order for release?”
To this, Justice Surya Kant firmly responded,
“No.”
The Supreme Court thereafter issued notice and directed the filing of a counter-affidavit within 10 days.
Case Title: CHAITANYA BAGHEL V UNION OF INDIA AND ANR. W.P.(Crl.) No. 442/2025