Bilaspur : The Chhattisgarh High Court has granted interim relief to former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in the alleged morphed CD case involving senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and MLA Rajesh Munat. The Court has stayed further proceedings before the CBI Special Court until the next date of hearing.
The interim order was passed by the single-judge bench of Justice Radhakishan Agrawal, providing temporary relief to Baghel while the High Court examines his petition challenging an earlier order passed by the CBI appellate court.
High Court Stays Further Trial Proceedings
After hearing submissions from all parties, the Bilaspur High Court directed that all further proceedings before the CBI Special Court in the matter remain stayed until the next hearing.
The Court observed the matter while considering Bhupesh Baghel’s petition challenging the order that had revived criminal proceedings against him.
The interim stay ensures that no further action will be taken in the trial court until the High Court decides the issues raised in the petition.
Challenge to January 2026 Order
Bhupesh Baghel has challenged the order passed by the CBI Special Judge, Raipur, on January 24, 2026, which had set aside an earlier discharge order and directed that charges be framed against him.
According to the petition, following the revisional court’s order, the trial court had already begun the process of framing charges.
Baghel argued before the High Court that if the trial proceedings continued during the pendency of his petition, the relief sought before the High Court would become ineffective.
On this basis, he requested an interim stay on further proceedings before the trial court.
Background of the Alleged Morphed CD Case
The case dates back to 2017 and relates to allegations that a morphed compact disc (CD) purportedly featuring Rajesh Munat, then a minister in the BJP government, was created and circulated with the intention of damaging his public image.
Following the transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the agency filed a chargesheet against Bhupesh Baghel and other accused persons.
The charges reportedly include allegations of:
- Criminal conspiracy
- Forgery
- Use of forged electronic records
- Publication and transmission of allegedly obscene material
The allegations are being examined through judicial proceedings, and the merits of the case remain subject to adjudication by the competent courts.
Earlier Discharge Order
In March 2025, a Special Judicial Magistrate had discharged Bhupesh Baghel from the case, observing that there was insufficient prima facie evidence to proceed against him.
However, in January 2026, the CBI Special Judge reversed that order and directed that charges be framed against the former Chief Minister, prompting Baghel to approach the Chhattisgarh High Court.
Arguments Presented Before the High Court
During the hearing, counsel for Bhupesh Baghel argued that the revisional court had exceeded its jurisdiction by not only setting aside the discharge order but also altering the nature of the charges.
The petition contended that such powers ordinarily rest with the trial court at the appropriate stage of the proceedings.
Baghel also argued that the evidence available on record did not establish the level of “grave suspicion” required under criminal law for framing charges against an accused.
These submissions are yet to be finally adjudicated, and the High Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the allegations.
Interim Relief Pending Final Decision
The High Court’s order is interim in nature, meaning it temporarily suspends further proceedings before the CBI Special Court until the matter is heard again.
The Court will continue examining the legal issues raised in the petition before deciding whether the revisional court’s order should be upheld or set aside.
The interim stay does not amount to a final ruling on the allegations or the guilt or innocence of any accused.
Key Highlights
- The Chhattisgarh High Court has granted interim relief to former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in the alleged morphed CD case.
- Justice Radhakishan Agrawal’s single-judge bench stayed further proceedings before the CBI Special Court until the next hearing.
- Baghel has challenged the January 24, 2026 order of the CBI Special Judge, Raipur, which directed that charges be framed against him after setting aside an earlier discharge order.
- The case relates to allegations concerning the creation and circulation of a morphed CD allegedly intended to defame BJP MLA Rajesh Munat in 2017.
- The CBI has filed charges including criminal conspiracy, forgery, use of forged electronic records, and publication of allegedly obscene material.
- In March 2025, a Special Judicial Magistrate had discharged Baghel, citing a lack of sufficient prima facie evidence.
- The High Court’s stay is interim and does not constitute a final decision on the merits of the case.
Source: Proceedings before the Chhattisgarh High Court in the petition filed by Bhupesh Baghel, challenging the order of the CBI Special Judge, Raipur, along with case records relating to the alleged 2017 morphed CD case, as reported on July 30, 2026.
