Hello Friends, Here’s What You Need to Know The Supreme Court has made a major decision regarding the controversial Chhattisgarh liquor scam case. Arun Pati Tripathi, a former Special Secretary of the Chhattisgarh Excise Department, has been granted bail, but there’s a catch he won’t be walking free until April 10, 2025. The Court has taken this unusual step to ensure that the ongoing investigation remains unaffected.
A Long Wait for Freedom
Tripathi has already spent around 11 months behind bars after being arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on April 12, 2024. He was accused of being involved in a large-scale scam that allegedly collected illegal commissions from liquor suppliers and facilitated the sale of illicit liquor through government-run shops. The Chhattisgarh High Court had previously denied his bail, citing serious corruption allegations, including bribes and offshore money transfers. However, the Supreme Court has now decided that keeping him in custody indefinitely isn’t fair, especially since his trial doesn’t seem to be starting anytime soon. But at the same time, the Court doesn’t want the investigation to suffer, so it has postponed his release until April 2025.
Why the Delay?
The state government argued that the investigation is still in progress and letting Tripathi go now could interfere with their work. The Supreme Court considered this and decided on a middle path granting him bail but delaying his release. This ensures he won’t be able to influence the case while allowing him the right to freedom after a long wait. When Tripathi is finally released, he will have to follow strict conditions:
- He must surrender his passport.
- He has to report to the investigating officer every day until the charge sheet is filed.
- He will be formally produced before the sessions court on April 10, 2025, where the final bail order will be passed.
Others were Granted Bail Too
Tripathi wasn’t the only one in the spotlight. Three other accused in the case Anurag Dwivedi, Dilip Pandey, and Deepak Duary were also granted bail. The Court noted that investigations against them were mostly complete. However, they, too, will have to follow strict bail conditions, including surrendering their passports and cooperating with investigators.
This case is a major example of corruption scandals leading to lengthy legal battles. While the Supreme Court has given some relief to the accused, it has also ensured that justice isn’t compromised. With the investigation still ongoing, more shocking revelations may come out.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available reports and does not intend to influence any legal proceedings. Readers are advised to follow official sources for the latest updates.
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