NAN corruption case: SC grants pre-arrest bail to former Chhattisgarh AG

New Delhi, Feb 28 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to former Chhattisgarh advocate general Satish Chandra Verma in relation to alleged irregularities in the Nagrik Apurti Nigam case.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta asked Verma to cooperate in the investigation and report to the investigating officer whenever directed to do so.

"We dispose of this petition with a direction that in the event of arrest, the petitioner be released on bail in connection with case registered at police station, anti corruption bureau/economic offence wing, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, subject to him executing personal bonds for a sum of Rs 25,000 with one or more sureties in the like amount," the bench said.

During the hearing, senior advocate Vivek Tankha and advocate Sumeer Sodhi, appearing for Verma, submitted that the Chhattisgarh High Court had wrongly concluded that there was a need for custodial interrogation.

They submitted no offence whatsoever was made out on the basis of allegations.

Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for the state government, opposed the anticipatory bail saying there was enough material against the law officer.

The Chhattisgarh government had previously informed the apex court that it would not take any coercive steps against Verma in relation to the Nagrik Apurti Nigam (NAN) case and issued notice to the state government.

Verma, the FIR alleged, helped NAN scam accused Anil Tuteja and Alok Shukla in getting bail in the case.

The purported corruption case relates to the supply of low quality rice, grams, salt, etc., and several high profile persons, including bureaucrats, were arrested in the case.

Verma challenged the February 13 order of the high court denying him anticipatory bail in the case registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC. The trial court had dismissed his anticipatory bail plea.

The FIR was registered on November 4, 2024 whereas the case came to light in 2014 when the anti-corruption bureau conducted raids in various parts of the state and seized cash and documents. PTI PKS AMK

Source: PTI