The hearing on the bail petition of IAS officer Vinay Choubey, who is embroiled in a land scam case, concluded on Monday in Hazaribag. The ACB-cum-District Judge, Asha Devi Bhatt, reserved her order after hearing arguments from both sides. The final decision on the bail application will now be pronounced this Wednesday.
Defense Challenges FIR Inclusion and Investigation Delay
Choubey's legal counsel, advocate Shankar Banerjee, presented a robust defense, challenging the very foundation of the case against his client. Banerjee strongly asserted that Vinay Choubey's name was absent from the original First Information Report (FIR). He argued that the officer's name was incorporated subsequently based solely on the statement of a co-accused, Alka Kumari, who later turned into a government witness.
Banerjee contended that this action violates established legal provisions under the Evidence Act and also flouts guidelines set by the Supreme Court of India. He further emphasized the prolonged nature of the investigation, pointing out that the matter has been under scrutiny for a staggering 15 years. Given this extensive timeline, the defense lawyer questioned the justification for making an arrest at this late stage.
Allegations of Baseless Charges and Official Proceedings
The defense strongly objected to the charges, terming them completely baseless and without merit. Banerjee argued that a Deputy Commissioner, the post held by Choubey, does not directly intervene in mutation matters of land. Therefore, linking the IAS officer to the alleged scam and framing charges against him was portrayed as fundamentally unjustified.
On the official front, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had earlier completed a preliminary inquiry into the allegations. Based on the findings of this probe, the Ranchi wing of the ACB formally registered a case, identified as Case No. 11/2025. This case names a total of 73 individuals as accused, with Vinay Choubey being one of them.
Current Status and Awaiting Judgment
Currently, IAS officer Vinay Choubey remains lodged in the Loknayak Jai Prakash Narayan Central Jail located in Hazaribag. The legal battle now hinges on the reserved order of the court. All parties involved will await the pronouncement scheduled for Wednesday, which will determine whether Choubey is granted bail or must remain in judicial custody as the case proceeds.
The outcome is being closely watched, as it involves serious allegations against a senior administrative officer and touches upon procedural aspects of criminal investigations and evidence collection.
