New Delhi, May 18: The Supreme Court has granted bail to former IAS officer Anil Tuteja in connection with the alleged District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund scam in Chhattisgarh. The decision was made on Monday by a bench comprising Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
The court noted that Tuteja has been in custody since April 2024 and that the trial is expected to take considerable time. With 85 witnesses to be examined, the Supreme Court acknowledged that the trial’s completion would be prolonged. The bench pointed out that co-accused in similar situations had already been granted bail.
While recognizing the serious nature of the charges against Tuteja, the bench refrained from commenting on the merits of the case. They deemed it appropriate to release him on bail without prejudice to the trial.
It was reported that Tuteja was arrested on February 23, 2026, but had been in custody since April 21, 2024, for other matters. The Supreme Court imposed strict conditions for his release, instructing him to remain outside Chhattisgarh and to provide his residence details and contact number to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the relevant police station within a week of his release.
Additionally, Tuteja is required to appear in the lower court on every hearing date unless exempted, and he must not attempt to influence witnesses or tamper with evidence.
During the hearing, the prosecution opposed the bail, arguing that Tuteja was a key conspirator in the DMF scam and had a history of attempting to influence witnesses and interfere with investigations. They cited WhatsApp messages allegedly indicating his attempts to secure favorable judgments in previous cases.
In contrast, Tuteja’s lawyer argued that similar allegations had been previously considered, and he had been granted bail in other cases. The DMF case involves alleged irregularities in the use of funds designated for development projects in mining-affected areas, including manipulation of tender processes and illegal commissions.
Earlier in April, the Chhattisgarh High Court had rejected Tuteja’s bail application, stating that preliminary evidence suggested his involvement in the alleged crimes and that, given his influential position, there was a significant risk of evidence tampering or witness influence.
Justice Narendra Kumar Vyas, presiding over the single-judge bench, expressed that economic crimes are often committed with cold calculation for personal gain, regardless of their impact on the community. Therefore, a stricter approach is necessary in bail matters involving such offenses.
The Chhattisgarh High Court had indicated that the evidence on record clearly pointed to Tuteja’s involvement in alleged crimes under IPC sections related to fraud, forgery, and criminal conspiracy, as well as potential violations of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
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