Supreme Court Refuses Relief To Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel & Son In PMLA Case

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to grant any interim relief to former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his son Chaitanya Baghel in connection with ongoing money laundering investigations under the PMLA.

A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi observed that the appropriate forum for such relief is the High Court.

The court refused to entertain Bhupesh Baghel’s petition seeking protection from arrest and a separate bail plea by Chaitanya Baghel, who is currently under Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody.

While denying relief in the arrest-related pleas, the court agreed to examine the constitutional challenge filed against certain provisions of the PMLA, including Section 44.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Baghels, argued that Section 44 enables the ED to carry on endless investigations without prior judicial approval—something the defence contends is unconstitutional.

The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for 6 August.

Court Questions Strategy

Justice Surya Kant asked Singhvi to explain why he combined the bail plea and constitutional challenge in a single writ petition, stressing that he must follow the proper legal route for each.

“Why should we examine facts? What is the purpose of the High Court, then?” Justice Kant asked.

The Bench remarked that such urgent relief pleas often surface only in high-profile cases, raising concerns about access to justice for ordinary citizens.

Bhupesh Baghel argued in his petition that authorities are targeting him and his son as part of a political vendetta.

He claimed that the ED arrested Chaitanya on false charges of receiving commissions in the alleged ₹2,161 crore liquor scam.

Baghel also warned that he fears arrest on similar charges and accused investigators of harassing his family under the pretext of an inquiry.

The petitions further challenge the jurisdiction of central agencies like the ED and the CBI in Chhattisgarh, arguing that the state had previously revoked its general consent for investigations.

Notably, the CBI has filed an FIR in the Mahadev betting app scam naming Bhupesh Baghel as the sixth accused.

The FIR includes 21 individuals, including key promoters Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal.

The CBI has already conducted raids at more than 60 locations across the country in connection with the case.

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