Chhattisgarh: As part of the ongoing probe in the coal levy money laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out searches at various premises linked to Congress leaders. The ED on Monday raided several places in Chhattisgarh ahead of the 85th plenary session of the grand old party.
More than a dozen targets are being searched
The raids took place ahead of the three-day plenary session of the Congress from February 24-26 in the state capital Raipur. The state is ruled by a party led by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Official sources said searches are being conducted at over a dozen places, including premises linked to Congress leaders and some legislators.
coal levy scam
He said the ED is probing those who have been beneficiaries of the proceeds of crime of the alleged coal levy scam committed during the tenure of the present government. The ED probe pertains to “a huge scam in which illegal extortion of Rs 25 for every tonne of coal transported to Chhattisgarh was being done by a cartel involving senior bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians and middlemen”, the agency has alleged .
Nine people including State Administrative Service officer Chaurasia, Suryakant Tiwari, his uncle Laxmikant Tiwari, Chhattisgarh cadre IAS officer Sameer Vishnoi and another coal baron Sunil Aggarwal have been arrested in the case so far.
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel’s reaction
Condemning the ED’s move, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Twitter that the BJP is disappointed with the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the truth about Adani being exposed.
BJP is disappointed with the success of Bharat Jodo Yatra and the truth of Adani being exposed. This raid is an attempt to divert attention. Four days later there is a session of the Congress in Raipur. Our spirits cannot be broken by stopping our people engaged in preparations.