The Supreme Court raised concerns about the “disturbing features” surrounding the arrest of former IAS officer Anil Tuteja in connection with the Chhattisgarh liquor scam. Tuteja was detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on April 20, 2024, in a money laundering case linked to the alleged ₹2,000 crore scam involving politicians, bureaucrats, and private individuals. The Court questioned the manner of his arrest and allowed him to withdraw his petition, granting liberty to apply for bail.

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• Supreme Court expressed concern over the “disturbing features” of Anil Tuteja’s arrest by the ED in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam.
• Tuteja, a former IAS officer, was arrested on April 20, 2024, after being summoned multiple times on the same day.
• The Court noted he was detained after hours of interrogation, arrested at 4 a.m. despite being in a government office earlier.
• ED’s actions were criticized, with the bench calling the arrest in the middle of the night “deplorable.”
• The Court had earlier quashed the initial money laundering case against Tuteja on April 8, 2024, citing lack of a predicate offence.
• The ED refiled a new case three days later, using the same materials, which the Court questioned.
• The ED’s justification was that Tuteja was evading investigation and might go underground.
• ED claims the liquor scam, involving illegal profits of ₹2,000 crore, included bribes from distillers and unaccounted liquor sales.
• Tuteja was allegedly part of a network of politicians and bureaucrats benefitting from the illicit activity.
• Tuteja’s legal team was allowed to withdraw the petition and apply for bail in a special court.