Prayagraj: Observing that criminal history alone cannot be a ground to deny relief, the Allahabad high court has granted bail to Niranjan Das, former excise commissioner, in connection with an FIR registered in Uttar Pradesh in the alleged Rs 2,161-crore Chhattisgarh liquor scam.In its July 7 order, the high court observed that the state failed to place any material on record to suggest that Das was likely to tamper with evidence, influence witnesses or otherwise misuse the liberty of bail.The FIR was registered at Kasna police station in Gautam Budh Nagar under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, alleging cheating and forgery. According to the prosecution, Das, who was serving as the excise commissioner in Chhattisgarh, was involved in drafting the state’s excise policy and tender process.After hearing both sides, Justice Vikram D Chauhan allowed Das’s bail application, observing: “If the accused is found to be entitled to bail, he cannot be denied bail only on the ground of criminal history.”The court observed: “The principle that bail is the rule and jail is the exception has been well recognised by the apex court, more specifically on the touchstone of Article 21 of the Constitution (right to life and personal liberty).”The Enforcement Directorate, in a letter dated July 28, 2023, informed the Uttar Pradesh govt that Das was allegedly involved in framing a policy that benefited M/s Prizm Holography Security Films Pvt. Ltd., Noida, a hologram manufacturer. Subsequently, the UP govt registered the present FIR at Kasna police station in Noida.According to the prosecution, Das and co-accused, including Arunpati Tripathi, the then special secretary of the excise department, were involved in the tender process and assisted in the manufacture and supply of holograms allegedly used in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam.Counsel for Das submitted that co-accused Arunpati had already been granted bail in the case. It was further argued that the allegations in the present FIR were already part of the earlier FIR registered in Chhattisgarh, in which Das had been granted bail by the Supreme Court.The defence also submitted that Das had been in jail since Dec 19, 2025, and assured the court that, if released, he would neither misuse the liberty of bail nor hamper the trial.Opposing the plea, the state govt argued that Das had criminal antecedents and that multiple FIRs had been registered against him.
