SupremeCourt – Top Court Upholds Chaitanya Baghel Bail in Alleged Liquor Scam Cases
SupremeCourt – The Supreme Court has upheld the bail granted to Chaitanya Baghel in both money laundering and corruption cases linked to the alleged Chhattisgarh liquor scam, while modifying certain observations made by the High Court during the proceedings.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to interfere with the bail granted to Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in two separate cases connected to the alleged liquor scam in the state. The apex court dismissed petitions filed by both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Chhattisgarh government, which had challenged the High Court’s decision to release Baghel on bail. However, it directed that certain remarks made by the High Court against the state’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) be removed from the record.
Supreme Court Maintains High Court’s Bail Decision
A Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohan, upheld the bail orders passed earlier this year. While refusing to cancel Baghel’s bail, the Bench found it appropriate to expunge the High Court’s critical comments concerning the conduct of the EOW during the investigation.
The petitions before the Supreme Court had been filed separately by the Enforcement Directorate and the state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) along with the Economic Offences Wing, after the Chhattisgarh High Court granted Baghel relief in both the money laundering and corruption investigations.
Arguments Presented Before the Apex Court
Representing the Chhattisgarh government, counsel argued that Chaitanya Baghel was one of the principal accused and allegedly played a significant role in the case. The prosecution maintained that the seriousness of the allegations justified continued custody.
Baghel’s legal team opposed the plea, stating that the High Court had issued a detailed and reasoned order after considering the progress of the investigation, which had been ongoing for nearly two years. The defence also argued that prolonged incarceration was not justified at the stage of investigation.
High Court Relied on Principle of Parity
On January 2, the Chhattisgarh High Court granted bail to Baghel in both the Enforcement Directorate case and the parallel ACB/EOW investigation.
While examining the money laundering matter, the High Court observed that Baghel’s alleged involvement appeared less significant than that of several other accused persons who had already secured bail. It also referred to the fact that individuals identified as major accused, including Anwar Dhebar, Anil Tuteja, Arvind Singh, Arunpati Tripathi and Trilok Singh Dhillon, had previously obtained bail from the Supreme Court. The High Court concluded that denying similar relief to Baghel would be inconsistent with the principle of parity.
The High Court further noted that much of the evidence collected during the investigation consisted of financial documents, digital records and statements recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). It observed that the reliability and evidentiary value of these materials would ultimately be examined during the trial rather than at the stage of deciding bail.
Remarks Against Investigating Agency Removed
In a separate order concerning the corruption case, the High Court had criticised the investigating officer for not arresting Lakshmi Narayan Bansal despite the existence of a permanent open warrant issued by a special court. The court had described the lapse as a serious violation of legal procedure.
While the Supreme Court chose not to disturb the grant of bail, it ordered that these adverse observations against the investigating agency be deleted from the High Court’s order, thereby limiting the scope of its intervention to that aspect alone.
Background of the Investigation
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Chaitanya Baghel on July 18 last year in connection with its money laundering investigation into the alleged liquor scam. Later, while he remained in judicial custody, the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Economic Offences Wing formally arrested him on September 24 as part of their separate corruption investigation.
The Supreme Court’s latest ruling means Baghel will continue to remain on bail as both investigations move forward and the cases proceed through the trial process.