Liquor scam: Chhattisgarh High Court grants bail to Anwar Dhebar in corruption case

The Chhattisgarh High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Raipur-based businessman Anwar Dhebar in a corruption case registered in connection with the alleged multi-crore Chhattisgarh liquor scam.

Justice Arvind Kumar Verma observed that Dhebar had been in jail for nearly 22 months and that his continued incarceration without the commencement of trial would violate his right to personal liberty.

"This Court deems it proper to grant bail to the Applicant (Anwar Dhebar), notwithstanding the undiminished seriousness of the imputations and his indicted role as principal conspirator. Continued pre-trial detention amid such interminable delay would be manifestly unjust, unconscionable, and subversive of the inviolable constitutional safeguard of personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution," the Court said.

Anwar Dhebar, the elder brother of former Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar, has been described by investigating agencies as a central figure in the alleged liquor syndicate that allegedly operated in Chhattisgarh between 2019 and 2023.

According to the prosecution, the scam involved large-scale manipulation of the State’s liquor procurement and distribution system, collection of illegal commissions, operation of so-called “B-part” liquor channels, and diversion of significant revenue from the State exchequer.

Dhebar was arrested on April 5, 2024, by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for offences including cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and violations under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Dhebar’s earlier plea to secure regular bail in this case had been rejected by the Chhattisgarh High Court in December 2024, given the seriousness and scale of the alleged scam. At the time, the Court took note of the prosecution’s claim that he was a main conspirator in a massive economic offence said to involve thousands of crores of rupees.

The Supreme Court on July 15, 2025, had also declined to interfere at that stage, though it granted him liberty to renew his request if there was no substantial progress in the trial within a stipulated period.

On March 3, the High Court allowed his subsequent bail plea. The Court noted that even though several charge-sheets and supplementary charge-sheets had been filed, charges are yet to be framed and cognisance against all the accused is still incomplete.

With more than 50 accused, over 1,100 proposed witnesses, a vast volume of documentary and digital evidence, and the investigation still continuing, the Court observed that the trial is unlikely to begin, let alone conclude, anytime soon.

The Court also clarified that it was not revisiting the merits of the case, but was considering the plea in light of prolonged incarceration and delay in trial.

“Whilst the earlier bail application stood rejected principally on the bedrock of the gravity, magnitude, and pernicious scope of the allegations portraying the Applicant as the principal conspirator in this egregious scam, the instant application falls for consideration against the backdrop of prolonged incarceration and inexcusable protraction in investigation and trial," it said.

The Court underscored that a person confined to judicial custody before trial cannot be expected to be imprisoned indefinitely.

"A person in custody cannot be compelled to sit in prison indefinitely awaiting the uncertain timeline of investigation and trial. The present case demonstrates precisely such a situation where the trial is unlikely to conclude within a reasonable time and continued detention would amount to punitive incarceration without adjudication of guilt,” held the Court.

The State had opposed the bail plea, arguing that the allegations pointed to a carefully planned economic offence and that Dhebar’s release could lead to witness tampering or interference with the probe.

The Court, however, pointed out that much of the evidence was documentary and already in the custody of the investigating agency.

The Court also took note of the fact that the Supreme Court of India had granted Dhebar bail in a connected money laundering case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate. The High Court considered this grant of bail in the parallel proceedings as a relevant factor.

The Court proceeded to grant him bail subject to Dhebar furnishing a personal bond of ₹1 lakh with one solvent surety of the like amount.

It directed him to surrender his passport, not leave the country without the trial court’s permission, and to fully cooperate with the investigation and trial. He has also been cautioned against contacting or influencing witnesses.

Additionally, the prosecution has been granted liberty to seek the cancellation of bail in case any of the bail conditions are violated by Dhebar.

Anwar Dhebar was represented by advocates Harshwardhan Parganiha, Mayank Jain, Madhur Jain, Arpit Goel, Harshit Sharma, and Manubha Shankar.

Additional Advocate General Praveen Das appeared for the State.

[Read Order]