New Delhi: In a significant development in the Chhattisgarh Nagrik Apurti Nigam (NAN) scam, the Supreme Court of India has set aside the anticipatory bail granted earlier to former IAS officers Anil Tuteja and Alok Shukla. The court allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to take both officers into custody for four weeks to facilitate completion of the investigation.
Top Court Reverses Bail Granted by Lower Court
A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma passed the order on petitions filed by the ED seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail and custodial interrogation of the two former bureaucrats, both of whom had held top positions in NAN—the nodal agency for public distribution system (PDS) operations in Chhattisgarh.
“We have no hesitation in setting aside the anticipatory bail granted to respondent – Alok Shukla and are inclined to grant custody to the ED for four weeks,” the bench stated.
The same order was echoed for Anil Tuteja, who served as the former Chairman of NAN, while Shukla was its former Managing Director.
Both officers have been granted one week to surrender, following which they will be taken into custody for four weeks. They will be released thereafter, if not required in any other case, and subject to terms and conditions laid down by the trial court.
Read also: Supreme Court Pulls Up ED, Grants Bail to Former IAS Anil Tuteja in Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam
ED Alleges Interference, Seeks Case Transfer
The ED also alleged interference by constitutional functionaries in Chhattisgarh, claiming that certain high-ranking individuals were in contact with a High Court judge to ensure judicial relief for the accused. This has further fueled the agency’s demand to transfer the case outside the state.
The agency had previously sought the cancellation of anticipatory bail for multiple high-profile accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Background: What is the NAN Scam?
The NAN scam, a multi-crore public distribution fraud, first came to light in February 2015, when the Chhattisgarh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) raided several NAN offices and seized ₹3.64 crore in unaccounted cash.
Investigations revealed large-scale irregularities in the procurement and distribution of essential commodities like rice and salt, many of which were found to be substandard and unfit for human consumption.
In 2019, the ED filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the PMLA, based on the FIR and chargesheet filed by the state’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and ACB.
Key Allegations
- Misuse of power in public procurement and distribution
- Substandard food supplies under PDS
- Money laundering and diversion of public funds
- Political and judicial interference in legal proceedings
