Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Supreme Court denies anticipatory bail to ex-CIP director in scam
Some people in charge of a mental health hospital in India called the Central Institute of Psychiatry were accused of cheating during a hiring process.
They were supposed to pick the best people for jobs like nurses, but they did not follow the rules.
Instead, they helped certain people get the jobs, and many of those chosen were relatives of workers or contractors at the hospital.
The police agency called the CBI started investigating.
The director of the institute at that time was a man named Daya Ram.
He was worried about being arrested, so he asked the highest court in India, the Supreme Court, to let him stay free before his trial.
The Supreme Court judges said the accusations against him were very serious and said no.
They told Daya Ram to give himself up to the court within two weeks.
He can still ask for regular bail later, but he has to face the court first.
The Supreme Court refused anticipatory bail to Daya Ram, former director of the Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) at Kanke, Ranchi, in an alleged recruitment scam.
A bench of Justices Sandeep Mehta and Manmohan dismissed the special leave petition, terming the allegations against him 'very grave'.
The court directed Daya Ram to surrender before the trial court within two weeks and allowed him to apply for regular bail.
The CBI-probed case alleges that CIP officials manipulated the 2021 recruitment process for posts including nursing officers to favour specific candidates.
The Jharkhand High Court had dismissed his anticipatory bail plea on April 16; the case was registered on January 2 on a complaint by CIP director Tarun Kumar.
- Who
- Daya Ram, former director of the Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP), Kanke; the decision was made by a Supreme Court bench of Justices Sandeep Mehta and Manmohan.
- What
- The Supreme Court dismissed Daya Ram's anticipatory bail petition in the CIP recruitment scam and directed him to surrender before the trial court within two weeks.
- When
- The Supreme Court order was reported on Wednesday, August 12; the Jharkhand High Court had dismissed his bail plea on April 16 and the case was registered on January 2.
- Where
- Supreme Court of India in New Delhi; the alleged scam occurred at CIP, Kanke, in Ranchi district, Jharkhand.
- Why
- The court found the allegations 'very grave' — that CIP officials manipulated the 2021 recruitment process to favour specific candidates in connivance with co-accused.
Petitioner's Defense
Court's Stance
Need for custodial interrogation
Petitioner's Defense
Daya Ram's counsel argued that the alleged offences, including under the Prevention of Corruption Act, are punishable by a maximum of seven years and documents have already been seized, so there is no need for custodial interrogation.
Court's Stance
The Supreme Court said the allegations are very grave and declined to grant pre-arrest bail, noting his alleged involvement in irregularities in connivance with co-accused Nirmalya Chakraborty and Nadeem Ahmad.
Period of responsibility
Petitioner's Defense
Counsel said most allegations do not relate to the period when Daya Ram was director of CIP and mainly concern recruitment made in the institute for mental health.
Court's Stance
The complaint alleges that CIP officials, including Daya Ram as then director, manipulated the 2021 recruitment process by violating rules and due procedure to favour specific candidates.
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Bench
- Justices Sandeep Mehta and Manmohan
- Petitioner
- Daya Ram, former director, Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP), Kanke
- Allegation
- Manipulation of 2021 recruitment for posts including nursing officers at CIP
- Probing agency
- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
- Direction
- Surrender before trial court within two weeks; may apply for regular bail
- Earlier order
- Jharkhand High Court dismissed anticipatory bail on April 16
- Case registered
- January 2, based on complaint by CIP director Tarun Kumar