New Delhi, July 31 : The Supreme Court on Friday granted conditional bail to suspended Jharkhand IAS officer Vinay Kumar Chaubey in the high-profile Hazaribagh land scam case.

The relief by a bench of Justices Arvind Kumar and Vipul M. Pancholi has paved the way for his release from jail after over 13 months.

The apex court, however, imposed several conditions. Chaubey has been directed not to leave the country without prior permission, to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation, and not to influence or contact any witness connected with the case.

The top court further said that if any of the bail conditions are violated, the state government would be free to approach the competent court seeking cancellation.

Chaubey had approached the Supreme Court after the Jharkhand High Court rejected his bail plea.

During the hearing, his counsel argued that he had been in custody since November 2025 in connection with the case and that co-accused Vinay Singh and his wife Snigdha Singh had already been granted bail.

Opposing the plea, the state government contended that Chaubey, being a former senior bureaucrat, could influence witnesses if released.

After considering submissions from both sides, the court allowed the bail application with conditions imposed.

The Hazaribagh land scam took place when Chaubey was posted there as Deputy Commissioner.

According to an FIR registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), official records relating to forest land and Khas Mahal land were allegedly manipulated to alter their nature, following which the properties were transferred to private individuals using forged documents.

The ACB has registered a case naming 73 accused, including Chaubey. The agency is investigating alleged financial transactions, land transfers and changes made to government land records.

Chaubey is also an accused in the Jharkhand liquor scam. He was arrested by the ACB in the liquor scam case on May 20, 2025, after nearly six hours of questioning.

Recently, he secured bail from a special ACB court in the liquor scam case as the charge sheet was not filed within the prescribed 92-day period following his arrest.

However, he remained in jail due to the separate FIR lodged in the Hazaribagh land scam case.

A senior bureaucrat, Chaubey has held several key positions in the Jharkhand government, including Secretary of the Excise Department and Secretary to the Chief Minister.

The ACB is investigating both liquor and land scam cases currently.

/IANS