SC stays criminal trial against Chhattisgarh CM Baghel in sex CD case

The ongoing criminal trial of the alleged sex CD case involving Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel was stayed by the Supreme Court on Monday (October 21).

A notice was issued to Baghel on a plea of probe agency CBI seeking transfer of the criminal case out of Chhattisgarh on grounds including that the chief minister has been allegedly threatening the witnesses in the case.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices SA Bobde and SA Nazeer issued the notice.

The CBI had also registered a case against Baghel in September 2018, then Chhattisgarh Congress president on a complaint that he had allegedly tried to frame the then state PWD minister and BJP leader Rajesh Munat in the fake sex CD case.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI said that two prosecution witnesses have lodged complaints with the probe agency that they have been threatened at the behest of accused for giving statement against the chief minister in the case.

(With inputs from agencies)