New Delhi, May 25 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to former excise commissioner Niranjan Das in two multi-crore rupees Chhattisgarh liquor policy scam cases, noting that other co-accused are already out on bail and the trials are going to take considerable time to conclude.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipup M Pancholi granted the relief in two separate cases pertaining to the main matter and the consequential money laundering case.

The bench noted that Das, who was termed as an alleged kingpin, had allegedly played a role in formulation of the excise policy in the state with an aim to benefit other co-accused.

While granting the bail, the CJI said Das was arrested on September 18, 2025 and December 19, 2025 in two cases respectively.

The bench imposed same bail conditions like other co-accused and said he will have to remain outside the state and can visit Chhattisgarh to attend the trial and probe only.

The bench, however, said that he can seek relaxation of bail conditions later. Earlier on March 1, the Chhattisgarh High Court granted bail to Saumya Chaurasia, a former deputy secretary in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) during the previous Congress government in two cases linked to liquor scam.

The state Economic Offences Wing (EOW) is investigating the criminal aspects of the scam, having registered an FIR on 17 January 2024, while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing money laundering after filing an ECIR on 11 April 2024. According to the ED, the liquor scam occurred in Chhattisgarh between 2019 and 2023 during the Congress government of Bhupesh Baghel.

It involved allegations that a criminal syndicate, allegedly in collusion with political and administrative authorities, supplied liquor to government shops while extorting illegal commissions.

The ED has estimated the loss to the state exchequer at Rs 2,883 crore.PTI SJK PKS SJK DV DV

Bail in liquor policy scam cases follows parity with co-accused and lengthy trial concerns Bail was granted to a former excise commissioner in two connected Chhattisgarh liquor policy scam matters, one relating to the alleged criminal conduct and the other to the consequential money laundering case. The court noted that co-accused were already on bail and that the trials were likely to take considerable time, and it imposed the same bail conditions as in other cases. He was required to remain outside Chhattisgarh, while being allowed to visit for trial and investigation proceedings, with liberty to seek modification later.