Pseudomonas mandelii KJLPB5 is reported for the oxidation of aryl alcohols in ionic liquid [hmim]Br (1-hexyl-3-methyl imidazolium bromide) with H 2 O 2 . With a slight alteration of reaction conditions, the developed protocol leads either to (i) chemoselective oxidation of 2°a ryl alcohols over 1°and aliphatic counterparts or (ii) direct one pot-two step sequential conversion of 2°aryl alcohols into corresponding one or two carbons shorter aryl aldehydes through oxidative cleavage pathway, thus providing a new facet to metal-free oxidations. The key operational parameters such as substrate concentration, incubation temperature, incubation time, ionic liquid type and ionic liquid concentration are also optimized.