Pseudomonas mandelii KJLPB5 is reported for the oxidation of aryl alcohols in ionic liquid [hmim] Br (1-hexyl-3-methyl imidazolium bromide) with H2O2. With a slight alteration of reaction conditions, the developed protocol leads either to (i) chemoselective oxidation of 2 degrees aryl alcohols over 1 degrees and aliphatic counterparts or (ii) direct one pot-two step sequential conversion of 2 degrees 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.