Bhupesh Baghel and his son file a petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the role of the CBI in a liquor case investigation against them.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Challenges Central Agencies' Jurisdiction in Liquor Scam Case
In a high-profile legal challenge, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his son, Chaitanya Baghel, have approached the Supreme Court, seeking clarification on the legal authority and jurisdiction of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in probing alleged irregularities linked to a liquor scam in the state.
The case, which has since become a flashpoint in the broader debate over the use of central agencies against opposition leaders, stems from an ongoing investigation into a Rs 2,160 crore liquor scam. The ED alleges that Chaitanya Baghel received Rs 16.70 crore in illicit funds and played a key role in laundering over Rs 1,000 crore through real estate and other channels.
The controversy partly stems from the political context and allegations of political vendetta by the former CM against central agencies. The ED claims Chaitanya laundered over ₹1,000 crore from the illicit liquor proceeds and misused some funds for real estate, but these charges are disputed by the accused.
The matter is scheduled for hearing on Monday before a bench comprising Justice Suryakant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. The petition questions the legality, territorial jurisdiction, and arrest powers of the CBI and ED in this case. The controversy partly stems from the political context and allegations of political vendetta by the former CM against central agencies.
The liquor scam allegedly operated during Bhupesh Baghel's tenure as Chief Minister, with a parallel liquor distribution network siphoning off massive sums through unaccounted sales and illegal commissions, implicating several political and bureaucratic figures.
Bhupesh Baghel has publicly denounced the arrest and subsequent raids at his Bhilai residence, calling them politically motivated and designed to suppress dissent. He alleges that the ED is being used as a tool to target opposition leaders and that the timing of the arrest, on his son's birthday, was symbolic of the Centre's vendetta politics.
The first ED raid at Bhupesh Baghel's Bhilai residence occurred on March 10, 2025. Between the March raid and the July arrest, Baghel stated that no formal notice or inquiry was issued to his son, raising questions about procedural fairness. Chaitanya Baghel was arrested by the ED on July 18, 2025.
The Congress party has backed Baghel's stance, staging protests across Raipur, Jagdalpur, and other districts, accusing the BJP-led Centre of weaponising investigative agencies to intimidate political opponents. The party claims that the revocation of state consent bars CBI and ED probes in Chhattisgarh under existing Indian federal laws and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), or if the agencies’ actions retain validity.
The Supreme Court is expected to clarify the extent of central agency jurisdiction and authority, balancing federalism, procedural regularity, and anti-corruption law enforcement in this high-profile liquor scam case. The Court's decision will have significant implications for the relationship between the central and state governments in India, as well as the role of investigative agencies in political matters.
- The ongoing legal challenge by Bhupesh Baghel and his son, involving the Supreme Court, raises questions about the jurisdiction of central agencies like the CBI and ED in war-and-conflicts, such as alleged irregularities linked to a liquor scam in Chhattisgarh, which stems from politics and general news.
- In the broader context of policy-and-legislation, the Supreme Court's decision on the jurisdiction and authority of central agencies investigation in the liquor scam case will impact federalism, procedural regularity, and anti-corruption law enforcement, affecting the relationship between central and state governments, and possibly setting a precedent for the role of investigative agencies in political matters.
