CJI-Led SC Bench Grants Bail to Former Bureaucrat in Corruption Case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to retired Chhattisgarh cadre IAS officer Anil Tuteja in connection with a corruption case involving alleged irregularities in the District Mineral Fund (DMF). A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi noted that the former bureaucrat has been in jail since January 24, 2024, in various corruption cases.

The CJI-led bench took note of the submissions of senior advocate Shoeb Alam, appearing for Tuteja, that the former IAS officer was arrested in the DMF case on February 23, 2026.

“The final hearing is likely to take time”

“The defendant was arrested on April 21, 2024 and is in custody. The other defendants have already been released on bail. About 85 witnesses are expected to be interrogated against the petitioner. The case is likely to take time to conclude,” the court bench said. he said.

The court panel said, “Although it is true that the allegations against the plaintiff are serious allegations, they will be the subject of trial. This issue is at the stage of questioning the prosecution witnesses. Considering the time spent in custody and the fact that the trial will take time to conclude, we find it appropriate to release the applicant on bail.” he said.

Tuteja is accused of accepting huge bribes in awarding contracts under DMF during his tenure as Joint Director in the Ministry of Industries in the state.

Alam said that he was granted bail in six other corruption cases and the DFM matter was the last case for which he was in jail, he was given the same compensation keeping in mind that he was retired and could not do much to influence the trial and the witnesses.

While granting bail, the court imposed strict conditions and directed the former officer to stay outside the state of Chhattisgarh.

Bail in the face of strong opposition

During the hearing, Chhattisgarh’s Additional Solicitor General Ravi Sharma strongly opposed the bail plea.

Sharma produced Tuteja’s alleged WhatsApp chats in 2019 and said his role was that of “chief conspirator” in various state scams.

“Please look at their conversation… He is discussing his release in the NAN scam case while the hearing is on. In this case, the witnesses were hostile,” said Sharma.

Alam countered that these allegations were irrelevant to the current DMF case.

“These statements are from 2019. What does this have to do with the matter? He was talking to the Attorney General etc. We cannot comment on this. This is a matter of jurisdiction,” the CJI said.

While deciding on his release, the court said that although the allegations against Tuteja were “serious”, they had to be proven during the trial.

The court noted that many defendants in the case were released on bail and approximately 85 witnesses would be interrogated in the case.