Ankit Tiwari’s Interim Bail: Inside Look at Tamil Nadu Legal Battle

Upon the date of Wednesday, the Supreme Court, in its wisdom, granted interim freedom to Ankit Tiwari, an official of the Enforcement Directorate. Tiwari had been apprehended by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) in the province of Tamil Nadu. The charges against him involved purportedly soliciting and receiving a sum of Rs 20 lakh from a civil servant.

Advocates of eminence, Kapil Sibal and Amit Anand Tiwari, appeared on behalf of the Tamil Nadu administration before a bench presided over by Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan.

The bench observed that the petitioner contested the denial of regular bail in an order dated December 20, 2023. The state’s counsel pointed out the absence of a complete set of documents thus far, a contention vigorously opposed by the petitioner’s counsel.

Further deliberation by the bench revealed the petitioner’s willingness to furnish the required documents, including a recent petition, by the following day. Additionally, the state undertook to submit its counter affidavit within a fortnight. “We hereby grant interim bail,” Justice Kant declared. Sibal assented, “As Your Lordship deems fit…” Tiwari concurred, stating, “We raise no objections…”

“In the interim, the petitioner is directed to be released on bail, subject to furnishing the requisite bonds to the trial court,” Justice Kant decreed. Tiwari urged the imposition of certain conditions on the petitioner: namely, refraining from contacting witnesses or other individuals directly or indirectly, and remaining stationed at his assigned locale.

The bench acceded to Tiwari’s request and stipulated that the petitioner refrain from tampering with evidence and not depart from the confines of Tamil Nadu without prior authorization from the court. “Should he possess a passport, it shall be surrendered,” the bench added.

The preceding week, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court dismissed a revision petition filed by Enforcement Officer (EO) Ankit Tiwari of the ED challenging the lower court’s denial of statutory bail in a bribery matter.

On December 1, 2023, Tiwari was apprehended by the DVAC on allegations of extorting Rs 20 lakh from a government physician, Suresh Babu, to resolve an ongoing case of disproportionate assets involving him and his spouse. Initially demanding three crore rupees from Babu, Tiwari eventually reduced the sum to Rs 51 lakh, of which Rs 20 lakh was initially procured. Tiwari’s arrest followed a complaint lodged by Babu with the DVAC.