The Supreme Court on Thursday postponed until January the hearing on a plea by Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in an alleged liquor scam, saying the case cannot be taken up in a piecemeal manner.
A Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi indicated it would hear the matter in the first week of January, declining to consider interim relief at this stage. Chaitanya Baghel was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on July 18 and has also questioned the validity of certain provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Opening arguments for Baghel, senior advocate Kapil Sibal told the court that investigative agencies were following a pattern of repeated arrests while keeping probes open-ended. He urged the court to restrain coercive steps, arguing that warrants were being issued serially and selectively.
Appearing for the ED, advocate Zoheb Hossain countered that Baghel is already in custody and that his bail plea has been heard by the Chhattisgarh High Court, where judgment is reserved. He also pointed out that Baghel is seeking anticipatory bail in another case, questioning the basis for any claim of imminent coercive action.
The Bench observed that the issues raised could not be addressed in fragments and would require comprehensive consideration, prompting the adjournment.
The case is part of a broader set of investigations by central agencies, including the CBI and ED, into alleged irregularities linked to the Mahadev betting app, rice mills, and purported coal, liquor, and District Mineral Foundation (DMF) scams during Bhupesh Baghel’s tenure as chief minister.
Chaitanya Baghel has approached the apex court against the Chhattisgarh High Court’s October 17 order that upheld his arrest. In a separate plea, he has challenged the constitutional validity of Section 50 of the PMLA and other provisions of the anti-money laundering law.
Earlier, on August 4, the Supreme Court had criticised the practice of affluent individuals directly approaching it for relief in criminal matters, directing Bhupesh Baghel and his son to first seek remedies before the high court in cases being probed by central agencies.
