SC grants interim bail to ED officer Ankit Tiwari in bribery case

The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to Ankit Tiwari, an Enforcement Directorate (ED) official, who was arrested by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance & Anti-Corruption (DVAC) in December 2023 on charges of bribery. However, the court has imposed strict conditions on Tiwari, including directives not to influence witnesses, tamper with evidence, or leave Tamil Nadu without prior permission.

Tiwari’s arrest by the DVAC on December 1st stemmed from allegations of demanding and accepting a bribe amounting to Rs 20 lakh from a government employee.

The sequence of events leading to Tiwari’s arrest began in October, when he allegedly contacted a government employee, claiming to have received instructions from the Prime Minister’s Office to investigate a case against the employee, which had already been resolved.

Upon the employee’s arrival at the ED office in Madurai, Tiwari purportedly demanded a sum of Rs 3 crore to evade legal repercussions in the case. After negotiations, the amount was settled at Rs 51 lakh, with the employee ultimately paying Rs 20 lakh.

However, the employee became suspicious following the transaction, prompting them to file a complaint against Tiwari. Subsequently, a probe was initiated into the matter by the DVAC.

ANI reported that the Supreme Court’s interim bail decision came with stringent conditions, indicating the seriousness with which the court views allegations of corruption and bribery. Tiwari is now subject to strict supervision and must comply with the conditions set forth by the court while the legal proceedings continue.

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