SC Issues Notice On CBI's Plea To Transfer 'Sex CD Case' Against Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on CBI's plea to transfer the trial of the 2017 'sex CD' case out of the state. 

The apex court stayed the ongoing trial after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for CBI, submitted that witnesses in the case were feeling threatened by the Chief Minister.

The case pertains to a CD which surfaced in October 2017 allegedly featuring sexual acts of Rajesh Munat, who was the minister for Public Works Department in the then BJP government.

A case of extortion was registered at Pandri police station, Raipur, based on a complaint filed by BJP leader Prakash Bajaj who said he was being harassed over the phone by an unidentified caller who told him that he had a CD of his  "master" (Munat).

Munat also lodged a complaint against Baghel and journalist Vinod Verma at the Civil Lines police station in Raipur for allegedly tarnishing his image through the "fake CD".

The Chhattisgarh government later recommended a CBI probe into the case. Verma, Baghel and some others were questioned by the agency in the matter.

On September 24, 2018,the Central Bureau of Investigation filed a charge sheet in the special court here in the sex CD case, naming Baghel and some others as accused. The Special CBI Judge, Raipur had then remanded Baghel to 14 days judicial custody. He was later released on bail

After the assembly polls held in December 2018, Baghel became the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh.