Former CM Baghel urges CJI to order independent probe into cases against him

Raipur: Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has appealed to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to take notice of the alleged conspiracies being hatched against him to tarnish his political career and for the ‘murder of the Constitution' through misuse of central and state agencies.
In a letter to the CJI, Baghel raised his concerns about the plots being devised to link his name to various crimes, particularly in relation to coal transportation and the Mahadev betting app case.He urged the CJI to order an independent inquiry into the matter.
Baghel stated in the letter, " I am compelled to write this letter to you keeping in view the situation arising in the state. A conspiracy is being hatched for 'murder of the Constitution'."
The former CM requested the CJI to intervene to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution regarding the functioning of central and state agencies in Chhattisgarh. He appealed for a high-level judicial investigation into the roles and functioning of these agencies, to be monitored either by the high court or through an order from the Supreme Court for its supervision.
Baghel mentioned that the case of alleged illegal levy in coal transportation was filed right before the Assembly elections were to be held in the state in Nov 2023. He claimed that in addition to the arrests made in this case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) physically and mentally harassed the people who were called in for questioning and influenced them to implicate Baghel in the crime.
Regarding the Mahadev App case, Baghel stated, "During my tenure as chief minister, action was initiated against the illegal online betting business operating under the name of 'Mahadev App.' My govt registered 72 cases against those running the online betting business through Mahadev App. Hundreds of bank accounts were sealed, and crores of rupees were seized. It was my govt that issued lookout notices against the operators of Mahadev App and requested the central govt to arrest and bring them back to India, as these criminals had fled abroad. However, instead of taking action, the central govt gave it a political colour."
Baghel further alleged that the ED took over the matter under PMLA in July 2022 and began the investigation based on these cases. He claimed that selective raids were conducted against his close associates in the state, including his political advisor, two of his Officers on Special Duty (OSDs), and a close friend on Aug 23, 2023.
However, the charge sheet presented by the ED in court revealed that no evidence was found at any of their premises that could make them accused of the crime. Baghel alleged that the ED's intention was to send a message before the elections that they had conducted raids at the homes of his close associates in the online betting case.