Chaitanya Baghel Vs State of Chhattisgarh (Chhattisgarh High Court)
Chhattisgarh High Court allows the bail application in Rs. 4000 Crore liquor scam case in the absence of any distinguishing material against the applicant. Accordingly, the present bail application is allowed.
Facts- The short case of the prosecution as set out in the FIR and the records before this Court, is that by the ED letter dated 11.07.2023 u/s. 66(2) PMLA which alleges a massive 2019-2023 syndicate involving manufacture/sale of illegal liquor through licensed government shops in Chhattisgarh generating huge proceeds distributed among excise officials, bureaucrats, distillers and political functionaries, causing loss of exchequer. Notably the applicant was not named in the FIR. The investigation has spanned 21 months, the Charge sheet No. 03/2024 dated 01.07.2024, arraigned 4 accused; stated “further investigation underway.” Five supplementary charge sheets filed sequentially: 27.09.2024, 18,11,2024, 30.06.2025, 07.07.2025 & 26.08.2025 – none arraigned the applicant despite passing references.
This application has been preferred by the applicant u/s. 483 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 seeking enlargement on regular bail in connection with FIR No. 04/2024 dated 17.01.2024 registered by the EOW/ACB, CG (non-applicant) for the offences under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B IPC and Sections 7 & 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
