The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted interim bail
to businessman Anwar Dhebar in a case involving alleged corruption and an
illegal commission racket linked to the Chhattisgarh State Marketing
Corporation Limited (CSMCL).
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and
Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana directed Dhebar to remain outside
Chhattisgarh as a bail condition and to appear in court during the trial.
The top court also directed the businessman to
provide details of his address where he would be staying after grant of interim
bail.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for Dhebar,
while senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani appeared for Chhattisgarh.
The Chhattisgarh High Court on May 13 had rejected
Dhebar's bail plea, saying the allegations indicated a "deep-rooted and
systematic corruption network" within the state-run corporation.
The HC held that economic offences involving public
funds must be treated with greater seriousness.
The high court had observed that economic offences
involving deep-rooted conspiracies and large-scale loss of public money are
grave crimes that affect the country's economy as a whole.
It had noted that material collected during the
investigation prima facie suggested that manpower supply agencies were
allegedly compelled to pay illegal commissions to secure clearance of their
legitimate bills and dues.
The case was registered by the Economic Offences
Wing/Anti-Corruption Bureau under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the
Prevention of Corruption Act.
According to the prosecution, a structured mechanism
allegedly operated within CSMCL in which manpower agencies were forced to pay
commissions for bill clearances, with the proceeds allegedly routed through
intermediaries.