Liquor Scam: Supreme Court Seeks ED’s Response To Plea By Bhupesh Baghel’s Son Challenging His Arrest

The Supreme Court issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate on a plea filed by the son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, challenging his arrest in the alleged liquor scam case under the PMLA. The petitioner argued that the arrest violated due process and was politically motivated, asserting absence of direct evidence linking him to proceeds of crime. The Court sought the ED’s explanation while granting interim protection against coercive action. This case underscores concerns about the expanding reach of the ED and the balance between anti-corruption enforcement and personal liberty. It also highlights judicial scrutiny over procedural safeguards in PMLA arrests, reaffirming that deprivation of liberty requires strict adherence to statutory conditions and constitutional fairness.