The fate of IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan hangs in balance as the Jharkhand High Court has reserved its verdict on his bail plea in the high-profile land scam case in which he is an accused. 

Former Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi and 2011 batch IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan has been behind the high walls since May 6, 2023.

The court’s decision came after the court it had heard detailed arguments from both the prosecution and defense before Justice Gautam Kumar Choudhary on July 23,2025.

The ED has been investigating allegations of money laundering linked to the illegal settlement and transfer of valuable government and community( Raiyat) lands in Ranchi. The central agency investigation revealed that several important land parcels were transferred using forged and fabricated documents during Ranjan’s tenure as Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi.

Alongside Ranjan, several other individuals have been arrested in connection with the scam, and the ED investigation is reportedly in its final stages. The probe has uncovered a network of illicit land transfers, triggering widespread public and media attention.

During the bail hearing, Chhabi Ranjan’s counsel argued that the IAS officer is innocent and has been falsely implicated due to political motives.

The lawyer stressed that Ranjan has spent a considerable time in custody and, with the investigation nearing completion, he should be granted bail.

In contrast, the Enforcement Directorate’s legal representative opposed the bail application, citing strong evidence against Ranjan. The ED lawyer warned that granting bail could jeopardize the ongoing investigation as Ranjan might attempt to influence witnesses or tamper with evidence. They urged the court to reject the plea in light of the case’s gravity.