The Supreme Court on Thursday granted interim protection from arrest to former Chhattisgarh IAS officer Anil Tuteja in a plea challenging the Allahabad High Court’s decision to not quash criminal proceedings against him in connection with the Chhattisgarh liquor scam.
A bench comprising Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih observed that other accused in the case had already been granted relief by the apex court, leading to Tuteja’s interim protection.
The Court stated:
“Even if the petitioner appears before the trial court, he shall not be taken into custody.”
The bench clarified that this order applies to connected cases as well and issued fresh notices to unserved respondents, seeking responses from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the State of Uttar Pradesh. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on January 21, 2025.
Background
The case pertains to allegations of a ₹2,000 crore liquor syndicate racket operating in Chhattisgarh during the tenure of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. An FIR filed by Uttar Pradesh police on July 30, 2023, implicated Tuteja and others in a racket involving tenders granted to a Noida-based company for supplying holograms for liquor bottles.
Earlier, on April 8, the Supreme Court quashed an ED money laundering complaint against Tuteja and others, citing the absence of a predicate offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). However, the Allahabad High Court, on October 4, refused to quash the FIR filed in Uttar Pradesh, allowing the continuation of criminal proceedings based on evidence collected by the ED under Section 50 of the PMLA.
Arguments and Interim Relief
Tuteja, along with co-accused Anwar Dhebar (Raipur mayor’s brother), Arun Pati Tripathi, and Niranjan Das, moved the Supreme Court after the High Court’s refusal to intervene. The apex court noted procedural delays due to unserved respondents and granted interim relief, ensuring no immediate custodial action against Tuteja.
The ED, during its investigation, identified links between the liquor racket in Chhattisgarh and operations in Uttar Pradesh, further complicating the case.
Next Steps
The Supreme Court has directed all parties, including the ED and Uttar Pradesh authorities, to respond to Tuteja’s plea by January 21, 2025, when the matter will be reviewed comprehensively.
