Dramatic Turn : Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam ; Law Officer Pulls Up ED In SC Over Reply ; Next Hearing On February 5

In an unusual turn of events in the Supreme Court, a law officer criticised the Enforcement Directorate for filing a “half-baked” reply in a bail matter and later termed it a miscommunication while urging the court to proceed with the hearing.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing an appeal of Arun Pati Tripathi, an Indian Telecom Services officer, challenging the October 25, 2024 order of the Chhattisgarh high court denying him bail in connection with the high-profile Chhattisgarh liquor scam.

As per PTI report, Additional solicitor general SV Raju, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate, said, “There is something hanky-panky as far as my department is concerned. Without consultation, a half-baked affidavit has been filed even before we made an appearance.”

Taking note of the shocking submission, the bench expressed dissatisfaction on the situation, calling it a “serious matter” questioning the accountability of ED and the agency’s advocate-on-record.

“The counter must have been filed by your AoR,” Justice Oka said to which Raju said the AoR could not be blamed for the oversight.

Subsequently, when the matter was taken up for hearing, the bench asked Raju, “You (ED) have filed a counter affidavit. Can you disown it now? What is going on?”

He responded, “I am not disowning. I am only saying it was filed without proper vetting so I will have to verify.”

The bench termed it a “sad thing” and said it was like casting an aspersion on the AoR.

“I am not casting any aspersion. Some miscommunication has happened,” said the law officer, insisting the AoR was not to be blamed.

Raju then requested the bench to proceed with the matter, but the court posted the hearing on February 5.