DON’T create an “atmosphere of fear”, the Supreme Court Tuesday told the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after the Chhattisgarh Government alleged the probe agency is “running amok” and is trying to implicate Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam in the State. The State Government alleged before a bench of Justices S K Kaul and A Amanullah that several State Excise Department officials have complained the ED is threatening them and their family members with arrest and is “trying to implicate the CM (Chief Minister)”.

 

The officers, the Government claimed, have said they will not work in the department. “The ED is running amok. They are threatening excise officers,” senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chhattisgarh, told the bench. “It is shocking state of affairs. Now elections are coming and that is why it is happening,” he told the bench. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for ED, countered the allegations and said the agency is probing a scam in the State. 

 

“Even a bonafide cause becomes suspect when you behave like this,” the bench observed, adding, “Don’t create an atmosphere of fear”. Last month, Chhattisgarh became the first state to move the apex court challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) alleging that central investigating agencies are being misused to “intimidate, harass and disturb” the normal functioning of the non-BJP State Government.

 

The Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress Government has filed an original suit through advocate Sumeer Sodhi challenging the law under Article 131 of the Constitution which empowers a state to move the Supreme Court directly in matters of dispute with the Centre or any other State. The apex court was on Tuesday hearing a plea filed by two Chhattisgarh-based persons, one of whom has been arrested by the ED in connection with the case, challenging the proceedings initiated by the anti-money laundering agency.