India, July 14 -- The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the bail plea of businessman Anwar Dhebar in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam case, observing the charges against him to be "serious".

"The allegations are very serious. You have a distinct role to play in this case," a bench of justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh said, dismissing Dhebar's plea after hearing the state government which alleged that Dhebar was the "lynchpin" in the entire syndicate linked to the excise case. It also alleged that Dhebar had a role in fixing tender conditions and determining market share.

Monday's order comes as a huge setback to Dhebar who had been granted bail by a different bench of the top court in May this year in a related money laundering case...