Supreme Court Approves Pre-Arrest Bail for Former Chhattisgarh AG in Corruption Case
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Synopsis
The Supreme Court has granted pre-arrest bail to Satish Chandra Verma, the former Advocate General of Chhattisgarh, in the high-profile Nagrik Apurti Nigam scam case, reversing an earlier denial by the Chhattisgarh High Court.
Key Takeaways
- Supreme Court grants pre-arrest bail to Satish Chandra Verma.
- Case is linked to the Nagrik Apurti Nigam scam.
- Incriminating WhatsApp chats were uncovered.
- Verma's bail plea was rejected by the Sessions Court.
- Government assured no coercive action during proceedings.
New Delhi, Feb 28 (NationPress) In a pivotal turn of events, the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday granted pre-arrest bail to Satish Chandra Verma, the former Advocate General (AG) of Chhattisgarh, relating to the notorious Nagrik Apurti Nigam (NAN) scam case.
A bench consisting of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued the ruling while addressing Verma's Special Leave Petition (SLP), which contested the February 13 ruling of the Chhattisgarh High Court that had denied him anticipatory bail.
The allegations are serious and fall under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as well as the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The state asserts that incriminating WhatsApp conversations between Satish Chandra Verma and principal suspects in the NAN scam, Anil Tuteja and Alok Shukla, were uncovered by the Income Tax Department. These messages were subsequently shared with the Enforcement Directorate (ED), leading to a deeper investigation into Verma's alleged role in the scandal. The accusations suggest that Verma aided the main accused in obtaining bail, which was instrumental in the progress of the scam.
The issue first gained attention when Verma's plea for anticipatory bail was rejected by the Sessions Court in November 2024. After his request was denied, Verma sought the Supreme Court's intervention for pre-arrest bail. In response, the Supreme Court issued a notice on February 21 and noted a statement from the Chhattisgarh government, ensuring that no coercive measures would be taken against Verma until the following hearing. This provided temporary relief for Verma, who was looking for protection from arrest during the legal proceedings.
The ruling on Friday is a crucial juncture in the ongoing investigation into the NAN scam. While the Chhattisgarh High Court had earlier denied Verma anticipatory bail, the Supreme Court's decision allows him to remain free from arrest for now, as legal proceedings continue. The Nagrik Apurti Nigam scam entails allegations of financial misconduct and corruption, with several notable individuals under scrutiny.
