The Supreme Court told the Chhattisgarh government- by keeping someone in custody, you are punishing him:

News Topical,Digital Desk : Hearing two bail petitions in the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam in Chhattisgarh, the Supreme Court on Monday rapped the state government and asked how long it would keep an accused in jail.

The investigation will proceed at its own pace

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan orally remarked- "The investigation will go on at its own pace. It will go on for eternity. Three chargesheets have been filed. You are actually punishing a person by keeping him in custody. You have made the process itself a punishment. This is not a case of terrorism or triple murder."

charges yet to be framed

Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for the state, opposed the bail pleas and said that the accused in the case should be confronted with other accused. Advocate Siddharth Agarwal, appearing for the accused, argued that three charge sheets have been filed in the case and charges are yet to be framed.

Six people, including government employees, were granted bail

"The petitioner was arrested along with three people. Six people, including government employees, have been granted bail. There are 457 witnesses. The investigation is still on," he said.

The apex court allowed petitioners Arvind Singh and Amit Singh to confront former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma and adjourned the matter for further hearing in May.

Allegations of scam of more than Rs 2,000 crore

The ED alleges that the scam was perpetrated by a syndicate of high-ranking state government officials, private individuals and political figures between 2019-22 and earned tainted money of over Rs 2,000 crore. According to the ED, bribes were taken from distillers to allow them to form a cartel and hold a certain market share.