The Supreme Court on Friday (October 31, 2025) sought response from the Center and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the petition filed by the son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, challenging certain provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and his arrest by the investigating agency in the alleged liquor scam in the state.
A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard Additional Solicitor General S., appearing for the Center and ED. V. Raju was directed to file a reply to the petition within 10 days. Justice Bagchi asked ASG Raju, ‘It is more a matter of interpretation of law than grounds for arrest… How long can you keep the accused in custody?’
ED had arrested Chaitanya Baghel on July 18. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Baghel, said that the agency arrested his client saying that he was not cooperating in the investigation.
Kapil Sibal argued, ‘They have arrested me (the client) on the grounds of non-cooperation, but they never sent me a notice or summoned me. This is a challenge given to arrest. They never called me and directly arrested me under Section 19 of PMLA, which they cannot do.
Other senior advocate N. appearing on behalf of Bhupesh Baghel. Hariharan said that the investigation does not seem to be over yet and he has requested the High Court to quash the grounds of arrest. Justice Surya Kant, after reviewing the case file, told Sibal that non-cooperation in the investigation is not the only basis for Baghel’s arrest.
Kapil Sibal said that all the rest are just allegations. The agency has not yet filed any formal complaint nor sought permission from the court. He said, ‘They are delaying the trial and keeping me in custody, while every decision of the High Court is in my favor.’
ASG Raju argued that this court has given three months time to the federal agency to complete the investigation and the ED is working in the same direction. On August 4, the Supreme Court had condemned the practice of rich people directly approaching the Supreme Court seeking relief in criminal cases. The court had asked Bhupesh Baghel and his son to approach the High Court for relief in the cases being investigated by the central investigating agencies.
Investigating agencies including the Central Bureau of Investigation and ED are probing several cases related to the Mahadev Satta app, rice mills and alleged coal, liquor and DMF scams that allegedly took place when Bhupesh Baghel was the chief minister.