Top Court Allows Release After Two Years in Custody; ED Probe on Money Laundering Continues Under Strict Conditions
After spending over two years behind bars, suspended Jharkhand cadre IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan has been granted bail by the Supreme Court in a case linked to alleged land manipulation and money laundering involving army-owned property in Ranchi. The court permitted her release but placed tight restrictions on her movement and required her full cooperation with the Enforcement Directorate’s ongoing inquiry.
Court’s Order and Key Restrictions
A bench of Justices Suryakant and Joymala Bagchi allowed Ranjan’s petition, observing that prolonged custody was no longer justified at this stage of investigation. The order bars her from leaving India without judicial approval and directs her to report to investigating officials whenever required. The court also warned that any attempt to obstruct or influence the probe could lead to cancellation of bail.
Ranjan had been arrested on May 4, 2023, under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Before approaching the Supreme Court, her bail requests were twice turned down by lower courts, including the PMLA Special Court and the Jharkhand High Court.
Background of the Alleged Land Deals
The Enforcement Directorate has been investigating two separate property transactions linked to Ranjan. The first involves the sale of about one acre of land on Cheshire Home Road in Ranchi, where investigators allege forged ownership documents were used to facilitate illegal transfer.
The second case pertains to around 4.5 acres of defence land in the Bariatu area of Ranchi, reportedly converted to private use through manipulated revenue records. Besides Ranjan, the ED has listed several co-accused, including businessman Vishnu Agarwal, revenue official Bhanu Pratap Prasad, and land brokers Afsar Ali and Pradeep Bagchi.
Career and Early Life
Born in 1981 in Kadma, Jharkhand, Chhavi Ranjan belongs to the 2011 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). A graduate and postgraduate from St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, she ranked 125th in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Ranjan’s administrative career began as Sub-Divisional Officer in Chakrpur, followed by a series of postings in Jharkhand where she was regarded as an efficient field officer before her suspension in 2023.
Continuing Legal Proceedings
Despite her release, the Enforcement Directorate continues to pursue multiple leads in the alleged land scam and associated laundering trail. The PMLA court will continue to hear related cases involving Ranjan and others named in the charge sheets.
While Friday’s order provides temporary reprieve to the IAS officer, it does not conclude the investigation. The ED has indicated that further supplementary evidence could be submitted in the coming months.
This ruling marks an important turning point in one of Jharkhand’s most closely followed corruption cases, with broader implications for bureaucratic accountability and transparency in land governance.
