New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday deferred the hearing on a plea filed by Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, challenging his arrest by central investigative agencies. The matter is now scheduled to be heard in January.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing on behalf of Chaitanya Baghel, argued before the court that investigative agencies were following a pattern of repeated arrests while keeping investigations open-ended. He contended that such actions amounted to harassment and violated the principles of personal liberty.
The case is part of a broader set of investigations being conducted by central agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), into alleged financial irregularities linked to the Mahadev online betting app case.
Sibal further submitted that despite prolonged investigations, no conclusive findings had been presented, and arrests were being used as a tool to exert pressure. He urged the court to intervene and provide relief to the petitioner.
The Supreme Court, after briefly hearing the submissions, decided to postpone detailed arguments and listed the matter for further hearing in January.
The case has drawn significant political attention, with opposition leaders alleging misuse of central agencies, while the government has maintained that investigations are being conducted strictly in accordance with the law.