Tripathi Granted Anticipatory Bail in Rs5Cr Bribe

Authority: Supreme Court of India, Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction

Order Date: 14 July 2026

Parties: Appellant Arun Pati Tripathi vs. Respondent State of Jharkhand.
FIR: No.09/2025 registered by the Anti‑Corruption Bureau, invoking sections 61(2), 318, 336, 340, 316, 45, 49 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and sections 7(c), 12, 13(2) read with 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Allegations: Jharkhand State Beverages Corporation Limited hired two placement agencies for manpower at its retail liquor outlets; the agencies submitted fake bank guarantees.
Conspiracy: Investigation uncovered that Tripathi, together with Anwar Dhebar, allegedly paid a bribe of Rs 5 crore in January 2022 to Vinay Kumar Choubey, then Principal Secretary, Excise and Prohibition Department, Government of Jharkhand, to secure an advisory role for Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited.
Accused Details: Main accused Vinay Kumar Choubey is on default bail; co‑accused Vinay Kumar Singh has been granted anticipatory bail; two other co‑accused have received interim protection. The appellants were not originally named in the FIR but were later implicated based on statements of co‑accused.

The Supreme Court allowed the criminal appeals and directed that the appellants be released on anticipatory bail by the jurisdictional Investigating Officer, subject to any terms and conditions the officer deems fit.
The appellants must appear before the Investigating Officer whenever called (including via phone) and co‑operate fully with the investigation.
If the appellants fail to appear or do not cooperate, the State may move the trial court for cancellation of their bail, and the trial court shall consider such an application on its merits.
All pending applications in the matter are disposed of.

Topics: Anticipatory Bail, Corruption, Judicial Order