Suspended IAS officer Vinay Choubey, arrested in connection with the Jharkhand liquor scam, was today granted default bail by the Ranchi Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court after the investigating agency failed to file a charge sheet within the mandated period.
Choubey, who has been in prison since May 20, was released under Section 187(2) of the BNS. The court laid down conditions for his bail, directing him to inform the court before leaving the state, retain the same mobile number during the trial, and furnish two personal bonds of ₹25,000 each.
The IAS officer secured relief as the ACB was unable to submit the charge sheet within 90 days of his arrest. The agency attributed the delay to the non-receipt of a prosecution sanction, a mandatory step before filing charges.
Choubey was taken into custody on May 20 this year after questioning in the high-profile liquor scam. Soon after, the state government suspended him from service.
Also Read : NCST seeks report on BJP leader Surya Hansda encounter
Investigators allege that he colluded with the Chhattisgarh liquor syndicate in drafting Jharkhand’s new liquor policy, introduced on March 31, 2022. According to the probe team, the policy allegedly caused significant losses to the state exchequer.
The liquor scam has already led to multiple arrests. At least 10 accused remain behind bars, and legal experts say they, too, may become eligible for default bail if the charge sheet continues to be delayed.
The case has put the spotlight on lapses in the investigation, raising questions about the pace of the probe and procedural delays. For now, Choubey’s release on default bail marks a setback for the ACB in one of Jharkhand’s most talked-about corruption cases.
Follow us
