Disturbing ED has not completed probe: Supreme Court on 2019 Chhattisgarh civil supplies corruption case

The bench was hearing a plea by the ED challenging the 2020 High Court order challenging the anticipatory bail granted to two of the accused, Alok Shukla and Anil Tuteja, the Chairman and the MD of the Nigam at that time.

Tuteja’s counsel told the bench, also comprising Justice Augustine George Masih, that four years had passed since the HC order but the ED had still not completed the probe. The bench then asked Additional Solicitor General S V Raju to file an affidavit stating what the agency has against the accused. Raju said that he did not want to place on record certain things as it would “paint a very bad picture of the judiciary”.

In September 2022, the agency had told the SC that “a sitting judge of the High Court was in touch with constitutional authorities who were helping the accused” and asked “would Your Lordships like to make it public?”.

Raju said he will point out the details during the hearing instead of filing an affidavit. The court said it is unable to understand how the judiciary comes into the picture and asked the ASG to file the affidavit. The bench will hear the matter in August.