The Chhattisgarh High Court has granted anticipatory bail to retired IAS officer Anil Tuteja in connection with an alleged inter-state liquor policy scam, citing significant gaps in the prosecution's case and the circumstances of the investigation.
The case originated from an FIR registered by the State Economic Offences Investigation and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Raipur, alleging offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act and provisions of the Indian Penal Code. The prosecution claimed that Tuteja, along with other accused individuals, conspired to manipulate Jharkhand’s excise policy to favour specific liquor businesses, resulting in substantial financial loss to the state exchequer.
Representing Tuteja, Advocate Arshdeep Khurana and other lawyers argued that the retired IAS officer was falsely implicated and subjected to repeated prosecutions meant to prevent his liberty, describing the pattern as an “evergreen arrest” strategy.
Allegations stated that meetings took place in Raipur where a framework for Jharkhand’s new excise policy was discussed and allegedly tailored to benefit select entities. It was further claimed that contracts were awarded to agencies linked to the syndicate, and illegal profits were generated through manipulation of procurement rates and the sale of unaccounted liquor.
The defence highlighted the absence of any direct or electronic evidence connecting Tuteja to the alleged conspiracy, noting no call records, emails, financial transactions, or digital footprints implicated him. They further observed that a diary recovered during investigation did not mention his name.
Moreover, despite the FIR being registered in September 2024, the investigating agency had not interrogated Tuteja nor sought his custody for over one and a half years. Multiple searches conducted over the years did not uncover any unaccounted assets.
In parallel proceedings in Jharkhand related to the same alleged scam, Tuteja has not been named as an accused nor summoned for questioning.
The State opposed the bail plea, asserting that Tuteja was a key conspirator and mastermind in a large-scale excise scam involving significant financial irregularities. It warned that economic offences are serious and that his release could impede the ongoing investigation, including potential witness influence or evidence tampering.
After reviewing submissions and the available material, the High Court noted that the alleged offence mainly relates to Jharkhand, where a separate FIR has been registered and where Tuteja has not been designated an accused. The Court also considered that the investigating agency had not taken steps to interrogate or arrest him despite considerable time passing.
Taking these circumstances into account, the High Court granted anticipatory bail to Tuteja. It directed that upon arrest, he shall be released on bail after furnishing a personal bond of ₹50,000 with sureties, subject to conditions including cooperation with the investigation, no interference with witnesses, and regular appearances before the trial court.