Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam | Supreme Court Grants Bail To Former Excise Official, But Defers His Release Till April 10

The Supreme Court has granted bail to Arun Pati Tripathi, a former Special Secretary of the Chhattisgarh Excise Department, in a cheating and corruption case linked to the alleged Chhattisgarh liquor scam. However, the Court directed that he shall be released on April 10, 2025, to ensure that the ongoing investigation is not affected.

A bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan noted that Tripathi has been in custody for approximately 11 months and observed that there is no possibility of the trial commencing in the near future. The Court considered the state's contention that the investigation is still ongoing and, therefore, granted time until April 10 for his release.

“Considering the observations made by us in the aforesaid order, the appellant is entitled to be enlarged on bail. However, to ensure that the investigation is not affected in any manner, we direct that the appellant shall be enlarged on bail on 10th April, 2025 subject to appropriate terms and conditions fixed by the concerned Sessions Court”, the Court observed.

Tripathi was arrested on April 12, 2024 by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. He has been booked for alleged offences under Sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 471 (using forged documents as genuine), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, along with Sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The Chhattisgarh High Court had earlier rejected his bail plea on September 30, 2024, citing his alleged involvement in a large-scale corruption scheme related to the liquor trade in the state. According to the High Court order, Tripathi, while serving as Managing Director of Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL), was accused of playing a key role in a syndicate that collected illegal commissions from liquor suppliers, facilitated the sale of illicit liquor through government-run shops, and engaged in other corrupt activities. The High Court had also taken note of allegations that Tripathi received bribes and transferred large sums of money to offshore entities.

While granting bail, the Supreme Court referred to its earlier order dated December 12, 2024, which had noted that Tripathi had been in custody for eight months and that three charge sheets had already been filed in the case in which more than 300 witnesses are cited, and the trial could only commence once the final charge sheet is filed. The Court had then observed that, under normal circumstances, he would be entitled to bail but had granted additional time to the state to complete the investigation.

The Supreme Court has now held that the observations in that order make out a case for bail since the trial is unlikely to commence soon. However, to ensure that the investigation is not affected, the Court directed that Tripathi be released only on April 10, 2025.

Apart from the terms and conditions to be fixed by the sessions court, the Supreme Court imposed additional conditions on his bail:

1. He must surrender his passport to the investigating officer.

2. He must report to the investigating officer every day at 10:00 a.m. until the charge sheet is filed.

The Court directed that he be produced before the appropriate sessions court on April 10, 2025, where the final bail order will be passed.

In the same proceedings, the Supreme Court also granted bail to three other accused in related cases arising out of the alleged Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam:

The Court noted that the investigation against Anurag Dwivedi is complete and directed that he be produced before the sessions court within ten days. The sessions court shall grant him bail with stringent conditions, including surrendering his passport and cooperating with the investigation.

Dilip Pandey, who has been in custody for approximately eight months, was granted bail under conditions similar to those imposed on Tripathi. His release has also been set for April 10, 2025.

The Supreme Court also granted bail to Deepak Duary, noting that the investigation against him is complete. The Court directed that he be produced before the sessions court within ten days, which will set appropriate bail conditions, including the surrender of his passport and cooperation with the investigation.

Case no. – Criminal Appeal No. 1263 of 2025

Case Title – Arun Pati Tripathi v. State of Chhattisgarh