The Supreme Court on Thursday (December 18, 2025) adjourned the hearing on the petition challenging the arrest of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s son in the liquor scam till January and said that the matter cannot be heard in pieces.
Chaitanya Baghel, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 18, has also challenged some provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. As soon as the hearing began, his lawyer Kapil Sibal said before the bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi that the agency remains engaged in arresting someone and continues the investigation.
He said, ‘This cannot go on… Once he is released and another warrant is issued… they arrest someone and continue the investigation. No drastic steps should be taken. Advocate Zoheb Hussain, appearing for the ED, informed the bench that the High Court had heard the bail of Chaitanya Baghel and the decision has been reserved.
He asked, ‘What punitive action will be taken when he (Baghel) is in custody? He is seeking anticipatory bail in another case. Investigating agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and ED, are probing several cases related to the Mahadev betting app and the rice mill and alleged coal, liquor and DMF scams, which allegedly took place during Bhupesh Baghel’s tenure as chief minister.
Chaitanya Baghel had filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the October 17 order of the Chhattisgarh High Court to maintain his arrest. He has also filed a separate petition challenging the constitutional validity of Section 50 and other provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
On August 4, the Supreme Court had condemned the practice of senior citizens directly approaching it to seek relief in criminal cases and asked former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his son to approach the high court in cases related to investigations by central investigative agencies.
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