Supreme Court – Daily Orders
Vinay Kumar Choubey vs State Of Jharkhand on 31 July, 2026
Author: Aravind Kumar
Bench: Aravind Kumar
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
Criminal Appeal No. 3549/2026
(Arising out of SLP(Crl) No. 8589/2026)
VINAY KUMAR CHOUBEY Appellant(s)
VERSUS
STATE OF JHARKHAND Respondent(s)
O R D E R
1. Heard.
2. Leave granted.
3. An FIR No. 11/2025 came to be registered for
the offence(s) punishable under Sections 420, 467, 468,
471 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and under
Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of Prevention of
Corruption Act, 1988 against the appellant at Police Station
ACB Hazaribagh, District Hazaribagh, Jharkhand on
25.09.2025 in which appellant has been arraigned as an
Signature Not Verified
accused and he is seeking for grant of regular bail.
Signature Not Verified
Digitally signed by Digitally signed by
Deepak Guglani Deepak Guglani
Date: 2026.08.06 Date: 2026.08.06
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13:46:15 IST 13:47:20 IST
Reason: Reason:
4. A complaint came to be submitted by Tripurari
Singh (Journalist Secretary, Journalists Union, Kadma,
Hazaribagh) alleging large scale illegal mutation of revenue
records and encroachment of Bhudan land, Forest Land,
Government Land, Grazing Land and Gair Majrua Aam and
Gair Majrua Khas Lands by land mafias in Hazaribag
District.
5. A Preliminary Enquiry bearing No.24 of 2015
was registered and clubbed with earlier enquiry for joint
investigation. During the investigation irregularities were
found in 33 mutation cases involving Gair Majrua Khas
category land which the prosecution claims to be a forest
land. The prosecution alleges that the concerned Revenue
Officials in conspiracy with sellers and purchasers abused
their official positions and illegally facilitated mutation of
revenue records of forest land in violation of Indian Forest
Act, 1927 and the Forest Conservation Act, 1890.
6. Appellant came to be arrested on 11.11.2025
and has remained in judicial custody from the said date on
completion of the investigation chargesheet has been filed
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on 05.02.2026 By the impugned Order the prayer for bail
has been rejected.
7. Having heard the learned counsels appearing
for the parties, we have noticed that appellant assumed
charge as Deputy Commissioner, Hazaribagh on
26.05.2008 and worked till 05.10.2010. Between 2011 to
2012, 23 mutations have been carried out particularly
during the period 20.10.2011 to 21.03.2012.
8. It is the case of the prosecution that while
appellant was serving as Deputy Commissioner,
Hazaribagh he had facilitated or influenced mutation of
revenue records in favour of private person namely Vinay
Kumar Choubey. Subsequently, this Court vide Order dated
10.02.2026 granted interim bail to Vinay Kumar Choubey.
Having regard to the fact that the investigation has been
concluded and chargesheet has been filed and also the fact
that co-accused has been granted bail, we are of the
considered view that appellant is entitled for similar relief
on the ground of parity.
9. Hence, we allow this appeal, set aside the
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impugned order and grant regular bail to the appellant,
subject to such terms and conditions as the jurisdictional
Court may impose.
10. To allay the apprehension of the prosecution we
grant liberty to the prosecution or to the complainant to
seek for cancellation of the bail of the appellant, in the
event of any of the conditions imposed being violated.
Appellant shall appear before the jurisdictional Court on all
dates of hearing without fail except when specifically
exempted by the jurisdictional Court trial Court.
11. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand
disposed of.
…………………………………J
(ARAVIND KUMAR)
……………………………………..J
(VIPUL M. PANCHOLI)
New Delhi;
July 31, 2026
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ITEM NO.6 COURT NO.12 SECTION II-A
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Criminal Appeal No(s). 3549/2026
VINAY KUMAR CHOUBEY Appellant(s)
VERSUS
STATE OF JHARKHAND Respondent(s)
IA No. 142472/2026 – EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF
THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT
IA No. 142468/2026 – EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.
IA No. 142480/2026 – PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL
DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ANNEXURES
Date : 31-07-2026 This matter was called on for
hearing today.
CORAM :
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ARAVIND KUMAR
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE VIPUL M. PANCHOLIFor Appellant(s) : Mr. Ajit Kumar Singh, Adv.
Mr. Amit Verma, AOR
Ms. Anukriti Tiwary, Adv.
Mr. Shirish Kohli, Adv.
Mr. Rewant Singh, Adv.
Mr. Shubham Sahota, Adv.
Ms. Aastha Anand, Adv.
Mr. Devesh Ajmani, Adv.
For Respondent(s) :Mr. Jayant Mohan, AOR
Ms. Adya Shree Dutta, Adv.
Ms. Dorjee Ongmu Lachungpa, Adv.
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Mr. Priyanshu Teotia, Adv.
UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following
O R D E R
1. Heard
2. Leave granted.
3. The criminal appeal is allowed in terms of the signed
order which is placed on the file.
4. Pending applications(s), if any, shall stand disposed
of.
(DEEPANSHU) (AVGV RAMU)
SENIOR PERSONAL ASSISTANT COURT MASTER (NSH)
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