Chhattisgarh liquor scam: Supreme Court grants bail to ex-IAS Anil Tuteja in ED case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to former Chhattisgarh bureaucrat Anil Tuteja in the money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Chhattisgarh liquor scam..A Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan noted that Tuteja, a former officer in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), has been in custody since April 21, 2024 and the cognizance of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) complaint against him was set aside by the Chhattisgarh High Court. "Appellant is entitled to be enlarged on bail. He may be produced before the Court of the Special Judge of the concerned district for completing bail formalities," the Court ordered. .Pertinently, the High Court had earlier quashed the trial court's cognizance of the PMLA complaint on the ground that the official sanction to prosecute the public servant had not been obtained. The order has not been challenged yet, the top court noted today."As of today, there is no order taking cognizance. The appellant has undergone incarceration for more than 1 year. There are more than 30 witnesses to be examined. The maximum sentence in this case is imprisonment of 7 years," it added..Tuteja was granted relief even as Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, submitted that he is a very influential person and could tamper with the prosecution evidence. Accordingly, he demanded stringent conditions for bail.Meanwhile, it was also submitted that a judge was yet to be posted to the court which stands designated for prosecution of PMLA cases. The Court then directed that a special judge be posted to the court so that cognizance of the case against Tuteja can be taken up. .Tuteja is facing three cases in connection with a liquor syndicate racket in Chhattisgarh. It is alleged that high level State government officials, private persons and political leaders would take illegal commission in the sale of liquor. They are also accused of unauthorized sale of unaccounted liquor through government liquor shops in Chhattisgarh..[Read Order].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.