Ranchi: Suspended IAS officer Vinay Kumar Choubey (1999 batch, Jharkhand cadre) was granted default bail on Tuesday by a special Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court in connection with the multi-crore liquor scam in Jharkhand. The bail was granted after the ACB failed to file a charge sheet within the mandatory 90-day period.
Choubey, who is currently undergoing treatment at RIMS (Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences) in Ranchi, will not walk free immediately as he is also an accused in a separate land scam case in Hazaribagh, for which proceedings are still underway.
Read also: Hazaribag Land Scam: IAS Officer Vinay Chaubey Officially Declared Accused by Anti-Corruption Bureau
Legal Loophole Leads to Bail
The court observed that 92 days had passed since Choubey’s arrest on May 20, and the investigating agency had not filed a charge sheet, making him eligible for default bail under Section 187(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Choubey’s lawyer Devesh Ajmani told media – “The Supreme Court has laid down in several rulings that if the charge sheet is not filed within the stipulated time, the accused is entitled to default bail. Based on this, the court granted relief today.”
The court has directed Choubey to:
- Furnish two personal bonds of ₹25,000 each
- Not leave the state without prior permission
- Not change his mobile number during the bail period
- Separate Land Case Keeps Choubey Behind Bars
Despite being granted bail in the liquor scam, Choubey remains in judicial custody as he is also facing charges in a land-related corruption case in Hazaribagh district.
He was suspended by the Jharkhand state government following his arrest in the liquor case, which involves alleged irregularities and fraud amounting to approximately ₹38 crore in liquor distribution and sales.
Background: Arrest and Allegations
Choubey, a senior IAS officer, was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau on May 20 for his alleged involvement in a liquor distribution scam involving massive financial irregularities. The FIR had accused him of criminal conspiracy, corruption, and abuse of office.
In his bail plea, Choubey also challenged the legality of the FIR, claiming it was not maintainable and sought its dismissal.
While he has now secured bail in one case, legal hurdles remain due to the pending land scam investigation.
