Supreme Court Grants Interim Bail to Businessman in Chhattisgarh Corruption Case

Interim Bail Granted Amid Corruption Allegations

New Delhi, August 5 - The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to businessman Anwar Dheber in connection with alleged corruption and an illegal commission racket linked to the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL). A bench comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohan instructed Dheber to remain outside Chhattisgarh and to appear in court during the trial proceedings as a condition of his bail. The court also mandated that Dheber provide the court with his address details where he will reside after being granted bail.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi represented Dheber, while senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani appeared for the Chhattisgarh government. The Chhattisgarh High Court had previously rejected Dheber's bail plea on May 13, stating that the allegations pointed to a "deep and organized network of corruption" within the state-run corporation. The High Court emphasized that economic crimes involving public funds should be treated with utmost seriousness.

The court noted that economic offenses linked to deep conspiracies and significant losses of public funds are of a serious nature and can impact the economy of the entire nation. The High Court's order indicated that preliminary evidence suggested that agencies providing human resources were allegedly coerced into paying illegal commissions to secure payments for their legitimate bills and dues. The Economic Offenses Wing and the Anti-Corruption Bureau have registered this case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

According to the prosecution, there was an organized system operating within CSMCL, where commissions were collected from human resource agencies in exchange for bill payments, with the funds being funneled through intermediaries.