SC upholds Baghel bail in liquor case

The Supreme Court upheld the bail granted to Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in two cases linked to the alleged liquor scam, while expunging critical observations made by the Chhattisgarh High Court against the prosecution. The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, questioned whether a bail order should be set aside merely for lacking detailed reasoning, stressing that suspending liberty must seriously prejudice the administration of justice rather than focus on correctness. It dismissed petitions by the Enforcement Directorate and the Chhattisgarh government seeking to cancel the bail, signaling a cautious approach to overturning bail decisions in high-profile investigations. At the same time, the Court removed certain remarks by the High Court about the EOW’s probe from the record, effectively maintaining the bail order but altering the record of remarks. The Court’s guidance underscores that the growing practice of challenging bail orders is being weighed against the need to avoid premature or baseless cancellations, as Baghel’s ongoing money-laundering and related inquiries proceed. The rulings come as Baghel’s case remains a focal point in the broader liquor-scam investigation and its legal ramifications for parity and due-process in bail jurisprudence.