New Delhi – The Supreme Court declined to grant interim relief to former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his son Chaitanya Baghel in connection with the alleged Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam, advising them to approach the High Court for bail and legal remedies. The apex court also refused to entertain their petitions at this stage, marking a setback for the father-son duo.
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard the matter and made strong observations during the proceedings. The court noted that the petitioners had combined challenges to various provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) with personal bail relief, which the court found procedurally inappropriate.
“You cannot seek constitutional interpretation and personal relief in the same petition,” the bench remarked, emphasizing the need to follow due legal procedure.
In a significant observation, Justice Surya Kant criticized the trend of influential individuals approaching the Supreme Court directly, bypassing lower courts.
“Why should every high-profile case come directly to us?” he questioned. “If we start entertaining every such plea, where will the common man go? The ordinary lawyer and citizen will be left without access.”
The court advised Chaitanya Baghel to approach the High Court for anticipatory bail, and directed that the High Court hear the matter expeditiously. It also clarified that the challenge to the constitutional validity of PMLA provisions, including Sections 50 and 63, should be filed as a separate petition.
While the Supreme Court refused to intervene at this stage, it has kept the larger issue of the Enforcement Directorate’s powers pending for further hearing. This case has drawn significant political attention, with the Baghel family alleging misuse of investigative agencies.
The Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam remains one of the most high-profile financial irregularity cases in the state’s history, involving alleged kickbacks, money laundering, and manipulation in liquor procurement and distribution during Bhupesh Baghel’s tenure as Chief Minister.
For now, the legal battle shifts to the High Court, where both father and son will seek interim protection even as the spotlight remains firmly on one of the biggest controversies in Chhattisgarh’s political landscape.
