Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel faces renewed scrutiny after a Raipur CBI court nullified his discharge in the infamous Rajesh Munat obscene video extortion case. The landmark Saturday verdict also upholds trial court decisions to frame charges against key figures like Kailash Murarka, Vinod Verma, and Vijay Bhatia, signaling deeper accountability.
Originating in late 2017, the episode involved two FIRs: one for blackmailing BJP leader Prakash Bajaj with a purported ‘master’s’ sex tape, and another accusing Baghel and Verma of peddling falsified videos of Munat on social platforms to smear his image and score political points.
The BJP-led state government escalated the matter to CBI, which submitted comprehensive chargesheets. Despite initial relief from the magistrate, the special court found merit in proceeding, citing irrefutable links in the conspiracy. Verma’s dramatic arrest fueled claims of a hit job, as he alleged possession of the CD irked the ruling dispensation.
This legal U-turn thrusts Baghel into the spotlight once more, challenging his post-poll stature. Denials from the accused ring hollow against the court’s findings, which detail a scheme blending defamation with extortion. Political observers predict appeals to higher benches, but for now, trial looms large.
In the broader canvas, the case exemplifies how digital manipulations can weaponize reputations in Indian politics, urging stricter cyber laws and vigilant probes. Chhattisgarh’s volatile arena braces for aftershocks.