Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 3: Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his son Chaitanya Baghel have approached the Supreme Court seeking clarity on the legal authority of central agencies—the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)—in probing the alleged Rs 2,160 cr liquor scam in the state.

The petition, filed amid growing political tensions, questions whether these agencies have exceeded their jurisdiction under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and other applicable laws. The matter is slated for hearing on Monday before a bench comprising Justices Suryakant and Joymalya Bagchi.

The move comes days after Chaitanya Baghel was arrested by the ED on July 18, which coincided with his birthday. He was taken into custody from the Baghel family’s Bhilai residence in Durg district, following early morning raids. The ED cited his non-cooperation during the search operation as the reason for his arrest under Section 19 of the PMLA.

The agency alleges that a parallel liquor distribution network operated during Bhupesh Baghel’s tenure as Chief Minister, siphoning off large sums through illegal commissions and unaccounted sales. Chaitanya Baghel has been accused of laundering over Rs 1,000 cr, with alleged receipts of Rs 16.70 cr through real estate and other channels.

Bhupesh Baghel has denounced the arrest and subsequent raids, calling them politically driven and an attempt to silence dissent. “The ED is being used as a tool to target opposition leaders,” he said, calling the arrest on his son’s birthday a “symbolic gift” from the Central government. He also pointed to an earlier ED raid at his residence on March 10, timed just before the state budget session, alleging it was intended to prevent his legislative participation.

Between the March raid and the July arrest, Baghel claimed no formal inquiry or notice was issued to Chaitanya, raising serious questions about procedural fairness.

The Congress party has strongly backed Baghel, staging protests across Raipur, Jagdalpur, and other districts, accusing the BJP-led Central government of misusing investigative agencies to intimidate opposition leaders.

As the case gains national attention, it has reignited the ongoing debate over the alleged weaponisation of central agencies in politically sensitive investigations.