Supreme Court Grants Bail To Former Hazaribagh Deputy Commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey In Land Scam Case

The Supreme Court recently granted regular bail to former Hazaribagh Deputy Commissioner and suspended IAS officer Vinay Kumar Choubey in a cheating and corruption case concerning alleged illegal mutation of revenue records and encroachment of government and forest land in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.

A bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi on July 31 allowed Choubey's appeal against the High Court order rejecting his bail plea and granted him regular bail.

The Court directed that the bail would be subject to the terms and conditions imposed by the jurisdictional court. It also directed Choubey to appear before the trial court on all dates of hearing unless specifically exempted.

The Supreme Court granted bail after noting that the investigation had been completed, the chargesheet had been filed and a co-accused had been granted bail.

“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”, the Court said.

The case arises from an FIR registered at the ACB Police Station, Hazaribagh, on September 25, 2025. Choubey has been booked under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120B of the IPC and Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The FIR followed a complaint alleging large-scale illegal mutation of revenue records and encroachment of Bhudan land, forest land, government land, grazing land, Gair Majrua Aam and Gair Majrua Khas lands by land mafias in Hazaribagh district.

As per the prosecution, the investigation found irregularities in 33 mutation cases involving Gair Majrua Khas category land, which the prosecution claimed was forest land. The prosecution has alleged 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 the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and the Forest Conservation Act, 1890.

Choubey had assumed charge as Deputy Commissioner of Hazaribagh on May 26, 2008 and remained in the post until October 5, 2010. However, the Supreme Court noted, 23 mutations were carried out between 2011 and 2012, particularly during the period from October 20, 2011 to March 21, 2012.

According to the prosecution, Choubey facilitated or influenced mutation of revenue records in favour of private persons while he was serving as Deputy Commissioner. Choubey was arrested on November 11, 2025 and remained in judicial custody. The investigation was completed and the chargesheet was filed on February 5, 2026.

The Supreme Court noted that it had earlier granted interim bail to Choubey by an order dated February 10, 2026. Since the investigation had been completed, the chargesheet filed and a co-accused granted bail, the Court held that Choubey was entitled to regular bail on the ground of parity.

Choubey is also implicated in another case related to alleged illegal transactions involving government land during his tenure as Hazaribagh Deputy Commissioner. The Anti-Corruption Bureau has alleged that around 5,000 acres of land in Hazaribagh had been illegally transacted. The land was alleged to include forest land, Gair Majaruwa Aam, Sarkari Khas Mahal, Kesher-e-hind, Lakheraj and Trust lands.

On January 6, 2026, the Jharkhand High Court rejected Choubey's bail application in that case, prima facie finding sufficient material to suggest his involvement in the transactions.

Case no. – Crl.A. No. 3549/2026

Case Title – Vinay Kumar Choubey v. State of Jharkhand