Supreme Court Grants Bail to IAS Officer in Jharkhand ED Case.


10 October 2025 Bail and Antcipatory Bail >> Criminal Law  

The Supreme Court of India, in Chhavi Ranjan v. Union of India (SLP [Crl.] No. 12137 of 2025), has granted bail to Chhavi Ranjan, a member of the All India Services and former Deputy Commissioner, who has been in custody since May 4, 2023 in connection with Enforcement Directorate (ED) Case No. ECIR/RNZO/18/2022.

The case stems from allegations against the principal accused, including Amit Kumar Agarwal, of manipulating official records to facilitate the sale of a property owned by one Jayant Karnad, through a sale deed dated October 1, 2021. The ED alleged that Ranjan had conspired and assisted in fabricating land-holding documents, allegedly to enable loan transactions.


 

 

A complaint has already been filed after the completion of investigation, and trial proceedings have commenced, with five of thirty-one witnesses examined so far. The Court noted that the co-accused have already been granted bail, and that the petitioner has no prior criminal record.

The bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh observed that there appears to be no reasonable likelihood of the petitioner influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence, and that any attempt to do so would invite cancellation of bail. Taking into account the long period the petitioner has spent in custody and without commenting on the merits of the allegations, the Court directed his release on bail.

The conditions of bail include furnishing appropriate bail bonds to the satisfaction of the Trial Court, refraining from leaving Jharkhand without court permission, appearing for all hearings, and fully cooperating to ensure the expeditious conclusion of the trial.

The Special Leave Petition was disposed of in these terms, along with related interlocutory applications.