https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Supreme Court Pulls Up ED, Grants Bail to Former IAS Anil Tuteja in Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam

‘On Merits, You'd Never Get Bail’: Supreme Court Reprimands Accused but Allows Relief After 470 Days in Custody
Indian Masterminds Stories

New Delhi: In a significant development in the ₹2,000 crore Chhattisgarh liquor scam case, the Supreme Court granted bail to former IAS officer Anil Tuteja (2003 Batch), citing prolonged incarceration as the sole basis for relief. The bench, however, made it clear that the decision was not based on the legal merits of the case.

The bail hearing was conducted before a bench comprising Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh. Senior Advocate Meenakshi Arora, representing Tuteja, argued that her client had already spent nearly 470 days in custody, while all other accused except Tuteja and Anwar Dhebar had been granted bail.

Sharp Remarks from the Bench

While the defence maintained that no recovery had been made despite multiple raids and no court had yet taken cognizance of the case, the bench remained skeptical. Justice Sundresh noted dryly, “That shows how resourceful you are.”

He went on to state firmly, “You will never get bail if we go in merits. The only thing we can consider is the prolonged duration of your incarceration.”

The bench denied a request for an earlier hearing date. In a biting remark, Justice Sundresh responded, “No madam, the jail is easier for people like you,” indicating skepticism about the hardship claimed by high-profile accused.

Also Read: SC Rejects Odisha Cadre IAS Officer Bishnupada Sethi’s Anticipatory Bail in Bribery Case

Allegations, Defence & Legal Context

Tuteja’s counsel asserted that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had not recovered a single rupee, nor had any sanction been granted to prosecute her client. Arora highlighted that excise officials and distillers—central to the alleged scam—had not even been named as accused. “My client was only involved in policy-making,” she argued.

She also suggested that various linked cases should be heard together to avoid procedural delays. The Court agreed with this proposal in principle and listed the matter for further hearing on September 16, 2025.

Background of the Case

The liquor scam case traces back to a 2022 Income Tax Department charge sheet filed in a Delhi court. According to the ED, officials allegedly collected bribes from distillers in exchange for manipulating liquor case purchases via Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL). The ED further alleged that country liquor was sold off the books, while distillers operated as cartels to fix market shares by paying kickbacks.

Previously, on April 8, the Supreme Court had pulled up the ED for improperly filing a writ petition under Article 32, suggesting procedural lapses in the agency’s approach.

With the grant of bail to Anil Tuteja, the Court has added a new dimension to the evolving judicial scrutiny over the high-stakes scam that continues to attract national attention.

Also Read: SC Summons Bihar IPS Officer for Supporting Accused in Affidavit, Calls Conduct “Casual” and “Prejudicial”


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
ACC_Appointments Committee of Cabinet
ACC Approves Major Reshuffle: 15 Bureaucrats, Including 12 IAS, Promoted to Additional Secy; Sudeep Jain Named NCW Member Secy
IAS Aunjaneya Kumar Singh IAS Anjaneya Singh
IAS Aunjaneya Singh Stays in UP, Centre Approves One-Year Extension After 48-Hour Exit
Chhattisgarh CM Investment Japan visit (3)
Chhattisgarh Woos Japanese Investors in Osaka, Signs $11.45 Million MoU with Sartaj Foods
MP Power Sector Recruitment 2025
MP CM Mohan Yadav to Distribute Appointment Letters to 1,060 Power Sector Recruits in Bhopal on August 26
UPSC Easy paper
UPSC Mains Essay Topics 2025: A Test of Thought Leadership, Not Just Writing Skills
Mumbai Chalta Hai MGL Par
MGL Launches Brand Campaign ‘Mumbai Chalta Hai, MGL Par’ to Celebrate Its Vital Role in City’s Pulse
Sonali Mishra motivates
UP Cadre IPS Sonali Mishra Inspires NCC Cadets in Bareilly, Emphasizes Power of the Uniform
NHPC Resized
NHPC’s Solar Expansion: 300 MW Bikaner Project Full Commissioning Now Due in September
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-25 at 13.56
Operation Hunt: IPS Dr. Karanraj Vaghela’s Mission to Nab Valsad’s Most Wanted
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
IPS Smit P Parmar
Jharsuguda Police Ensures Rapid Justice for Minor Blind Girl, Secures Life Imprisonment in 99 Days
ACC_Appointments Committee of Cabinet
ACC Approves Major Reshuffle: 15 Bureaucrats, Including 12 IAS, Promoted to Additional Secy; Sudeep Jain Named NCW Member Secy
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-25 at 13.56
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT