Bilaspur/Raipur, March 3, 2026 — The High Court of Chhattisgarh on Monday granted regular bail to former senior bureaucrat Anil Tuteja in connection with an alleged liquor scam being investigated by the state’s Economic Offences Wing/Anti-Corruption Bureau.
The order was passed by Justice Arvind Kumar Verma on Tuteja’s second bail application, filed after the Supreme Court of India granted him liberty to renew his plea if there was no meaningful progress in the case.
Tuteja has been in custody for more than 18 months in the present case, registered as Crime No. 04/2024. The court noted that his total incarceration, including time spent in custody in related proceedings initiated by the Enforcement Directorate, is approaching 23 months.
In its order, the High Court emphasized that bail was being granted solely on the grounds of prolonged incarceration and delay in trial — not on the merits of the allegations.
Trial Yet to Begin
According to court records, seven charge sheets have been filed in the case, naming 51 accused and listing 1,111 witnesses. However, prosecution sanction against Tuteja is still pending. As a result, the trial court has not taken cognizance of the charges, and no charges have been framed.
The High Court observed that the trial has not commenced and is unlikely to conclude anytime soon, given the scale of documentary evidence and the number of witnesses. The court held that continued detention under such circumstances would violate the constitutional guarantee of personal liberty under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
The bench also noted that the case against Tuteja is primarily based on documentary evidence already seized by investigators. No unaccounted cash, illegal liquor, counterfeit holograms, or other incriminating material was reportedly recovered from him.
“Bail Is the Rule”
Reiterating established legal principles, the court observed that “bail is the rule and jail is the exception,” and that the seriousness of allegations alone cannot justify indefinite pretrial detention when the trial is unlikely to begin or conclude within a reasonable timeframe.
Tuteja has been directed to furnish a personal bond of ₹100,000 (approximately $1,200) along with one solvent surety. Additional conditions include surrendering his passport, cooperating with the trial, and refraining from influencing witnesses. Prosecutors have been granted liberty to seek cancellation of bail if any conditions are violated.
The earlier order denying bail on grounds of the gravity of the allegations remains unaffected, the court clarified.
