N Uday Rao granted interim bail in Chhattisgarh liquor scam

The Supreme Court of India has granted interim bail to N Uday Rao, an accused in the Chhattisgarh liquor manpower scam. A bench including Chief Justice Surya Kant directed Rao’s release subject to conditions set by the trial court. The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on October 1.

The case involves allegations of financial irregularities within the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL) between 2019 and 2023. Prosecutors allege that manpower agencies were used to generate inflated claims for overtime, bonuses, and service charges for staff at liquor shops.

According to the Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offences Wing (ACB/EOW), these inflated claims resulted in approximately Rs 34.06 crore in excess payments to A-2-Z Infraservices Limited. It is further alleged that around Rs 6.90 crore was routed as illegal commissions through Rao to intermediaries and eventually to the principal accused, Anwar Dhebar. Rao has denied the allegations, with his counsel arguing he held no directorial or shareholder position in the agency involved.