Supreme Court Grants Bail To Ex-IAS Officer Anil Tuteja In INR 50 Crore Mineral Fund Scam

The Supreme Court today granted relief to retired IAS officer Anil Tuteja in the case concerning INR 50 Crore District Mineral Foundation (DMF) scam.

Allegedly Tuteja misused his position in the Industry Department to manipulate the allocation of works under the District Mineral Foundation fund.

A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Bagchi granted bail to Tuteja after noting that the co-accused persons were already on bail and about 85 witnesses are sought to be examined against Tuteja. The conclusion of trial is likely to take time, the bench said.

"This matter is at the stage where the prosecution witnesses are to be examined. Taking into consideration the period spent in custody and the fact that the conclusion of trial is likely to take time, we deem it appropriate to grant bail to the petitioner. The petitioner shall remain outside the State and shall not make any attempt to influence the witnesses," the bench noted in its order.

In April, the Chhattisgarh High Court had denied bail to Tuteja after court looked into the gravity of the offence, the role played by the petitioner, and the position of the petitioner to influence the witnesses as a senior officer in the department.

Justice Narendra Kumar Vyas of the High Court had heard the bail plea of former IAS officer who was arrested in February this year under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The case stems from an investigation by the Economic Offences Wing/ Anti-Corruption Bureau, initiated following a 2024 information report from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding corruption in the use of DMF funds in Kobra district. Tuteja was arrested on February 23, 2024, for his alleged involvement in multiple financial irregularities, including the DMF, rice milling, and liquor scams.

Senior advocate Shoeb Alam appearing for Tuteja told the court today that Tuteja was not going to run away and he was entitled to his liberty. AAG Ravi Sharma vehemently argued against grant of bail stating that Tuteja has a history of tampering evidence. "These are chats of him with former law officer to secure bail for himself and another co-accused," the bench was told.

In March this year, the Supreme Court had turned down the plea by Tuteja to pass a blanket order against registration of any fresh case against him and permitted him to approach the Chhattisgarh high court for anticipatory bail in cases where he apprehends arrest.

The bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justice Joymalya Bagchi had then said, “It’s not that these cases are politically motivated. You are a bureaucrat who has enjoyed power for so many years. Here the issue concerns public money going into private hands. If you are involved, you are involved. You go and apply for bail.’

Alam had told court that for 20 months Tuteja had been incarcerated after the top court set aside the bail granted to him in the liquor scam case. “They do not take me into remand in other cases during this period when I am already in custody. Let them interrogate me in all cases instead of waiting for the time when I am released on bail. There is a pattern visible in all these cases,” Alam had submitted.

To this, the bench had said the argument was “emotive” but not legally sound. “When seen through a legal lens, your argument cannot be accepted as we cannot enforce your arrest when the agency is not willing to do so,” the bench had told Alam.

Case Title: Anil Tuteja vs State of Chhattisgarh

Bench: CJI Kant and Justice Bagchi

Hearing Date: May 18, 2025