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20 May 2025, 12:41 PM
The Supreme Court on Monday(May 19) granted bail to Anwar Dhebar, businessman and brother of former Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar, accused in a money laundering case arising out of the alleged Rs. 2,000 crore Chhattisgarh liquor scam.
A bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan observed that the maximum sentence prescribed for the offence is seven years and that there is no possibility of the trial commencing in the near future.
“Following the law laid down in the case of Senthil Balaji v. Deputy Director, the appellant is entitled to be enlarged on bail”, the Court held.
During the hearing, the Enforcement Directorate opposed the bail plea, arguing that Anwar Dhebar was the kingpin of the liquor syndicate and had substantial influence and political connections.
However, Justice Bhuyan responded, “These are all allegations.” Justice Oka asked, “How long will he continue in custody without trial?” He further noted that the money laundering trial cannot conclude unless the trial in the predicate offence is concluded.
The Court noted that Anwar Dhebar had earlier undergone 80 days of custody in connection with an earlier ECIR on the same subject which had been subsequently quashed. In the present ECIR and complaint, he was arrested on August 8, 2024. Since then, the Enforcement Directorate has filed three supplementary complaints in addition to the original complaint.
The Court noted that so far, 40 witnesses have been cited in the present money laundering case, and investigation is still in progress. In the predicate offence registered by the Chhattisgarh Police in January 2024, 450 witnesses have been cited, and that investigation is also ongoing and cognisance has not yet been taken, the Court noted. The Court therefore observed that the trial is unlikely to begin in the near future.
"So far 03 supplementary complaints have been filed in addition to the original complaint. 40 witnesses have been cited. The investigation is in progress. In the predicate offence, there are 450 witnesses and the investigation is in progress. Cognizance has not been taken. Therefore, there is no possibility of the trial commencing in near future."
Further, the court noted that there are no antecedents against Dhebar apart from the predicate corruption case in the same case. The Court referred to its judgment in Senthil Balaji v. Deputy Director and granted bail.
The Supreme Court directed that Anwar Dhebar be produced before the special court within one week. The special court shall enlarge him on appropriate stringent terms and conditions after hearing the counsel for the Enforcement Directorate.
In addition to the conditions imposed by the special court, the Supreme Court directed that Dhebar must surrender his passport, if any, and regularly and punctually attend the special court. He is also required to cooperate with the special court for early conclusion of the trial.
On April 8, 2024, the Supreme Court had quashed a previous money laundering case registered by the ED in the same matter against Anil Tuteja, Anwar Dhebar, Arun Pati Tripathi and others, after finding that there was no predicate offence.
The next day, the ED registered a fresh money laundering case based on the predicate FIR registered by the Chhattisgarh Police in January 2024. Dhebar was arrested in this second case on August 8, 2024.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court has granted bail to co-accused and former public servants Anil Tuteja and Arun Pati Tripathi on the ground that the trial court's order taking cognisance of the complaint had been quashed by the High Court.
Case no. – SLP(Crl) No. 3592/2025
Case Title – Anwar Dhebar v. Directorate of Enforcement