SC grants interim bail to bizman in C’garh liquor scam

The Supreme Court of India recently granted interim bail to businessman Anwar Dhebar in relation to the alleged Chhattisgarh liquor scam. The decision was made by a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who considered confidential material presented by the Chhattisgarh government. Dhebar is permitted to return to Chhattisgarh solely for the purposes of trial and court proceedings, but he must remain outside the state otherwise and provide his address and contact details to the investigating officer.

The Chhattisgarh government, represented by senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani and state additional advocate general Ravi Sharma, opposed Dhebar's bail plea, expressing concerns about the release of someone they allege to be a central conspirator in the case. The state government submitted confidential information in a sealed cover, which the court reviewed before issuing its order.

Dhebar's legal team, led by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, objected to the use of a sealed-cover procedure. However, the court ruled that the state's reliance on confidential information warranted the interim bail. The court emphasized that Dhebar's right to liberty would be balanced, granting him release under the given conditions.

Rohatgi questioned the basis for directing Dhebar to remain outside Chhattisgarh, arguing that multiple cases had been registered against his client one after another to keep him in custody. He suggested that the defence was unaware of the state's material and contended that the court could not disclose sensitive information at this stage.

Dhebar had previously sought bail against a May 13 order by the Chhattisgarh high court, which had rejected his bail plea. The prosecution alleges that Dhebar exerted undue control over CSMCL's administration and financial operations, using his influence to clear bills submitted by manpower agencies in exchange for illegal gratification. They claim that Dhebar imposed a fixed percentage of commission on bills, which was collected directly by him and used to increase commission rates.