SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
New Delhi, Oct 10: The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Chhavi Ranjan, the former Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi and an accused in the high-profile Army land scam in Jharkhand, after he spent more than two years in custody.
A Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh ordered Ranjan’s release, subject to conditions.
Senior Advocate Ajit Kumar Sinha, along with Abhishek Choudhary, represented Ranjan. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) was represented by Zoheb Hussain and Sudarshan Lamba.
Court Notes Long Custody, Progress in Trial
The Bench observed that the investigation had concluded and the trial had already commenced, with five of the 31 listed witnesses examined so far.
The judges noted that there appeared to be no immediate risk of witness intimidation or tampering with evidence, and stressed that any such attempt would lead to cancellation of bail.
Considering Ranjan’s prolonged detention since May 4, 2023, and the absence of criminal antecedents, the Court decided to grant bail “without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case.”
Ranjan was directed to furnish bail bonds to the satisfaction of the trial court, remain within Jharkhand unless granted prior permission, and attend every court hearing. The Court disposed of the Special Leave Petition and related interlocutory applications.
Background: The Ranchi Defence Land Scam
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been probing a large-scale land scam involving fraudulent transfer of Army-owned land in Ranchi.
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According to the agency, a syndicate of land dealers and public officials conspired to forge land records and execute fake sale deeds for prime government property.
The case centres on about 4.55 acres in Bariatu and 7.16 acres in Bajra, originally under the Army’s ownership, allegedly sold to private individuals using forged documents.
The total value of the attached assets in the case stands at ₹74.39 crore, according to the ED.
Investigators allege that government records were manipulated between 2020 and 2022, during Ranjan’s tenure as Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi.
Ranjan was arrested in May 2023 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED has previously arrested several co-accused, including land dealers and revenue officials such as Bhanu Pratap Prasad.
The agency claims that the syndicate used fake seals and fabricated documents to legitimise the transactions, while undervaluing the land to conceal the scale of the fraud.
Bail Rejections and Legal Timeline
Ranjan’s earlier bail pleas were rejected by the Special PMLA Court and later by the Jharkhand High Court on August 6, 2025, before he approached the Supreme Court.
Friday’s order marks a key development in the ongoing case, though the Supreme Court made it clear that the trial must proceed without delay and in strict compliance with bail conditions.
What Lies Ahead
With the Supreme Court’s decision, Ranjan is expected to be released shortly upon execution of bail bonds. The trial court in Ranchi will continue hearing the case, with the next round of witness depositions expected in the coming weeks.
