The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recommended disciplinary and legal action against 10 senior IAS and IPS officers in connection with the alleged ₹570-crore Chhattisgarh coal levy scam, citing violations under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
According to official sources, the recommendation has been sent to Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain and the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Chhattisgarh government following an extensive investigation by the central agency into illegal coal levies purportedly facilitated through administrative orders.
Illegal Coal Permit Conversions at the Core of Scam
The ED’s probe revealed that the scam stemmed from the conversion of online coal permits into offline permits, a move that allegedly opened avenues for collecting unauthorised levies from coal traders. The order enabling this shift was reportedly issued in July 2020 by then Mines Director, IAS officer Sameer Vishnoi.
The agency’s findings indicate that the conversion system was exploited to demand bribes and levies from transporters and traders, with the funds allegedly routed through intermediaries and shell entities.
Key Accused and Current Status
The ED has identified businessman Suryakant Tiwari as the alleged mastermind of the racket, with senior bureaucrats Sameer Vishnoi, Ranu Sahu, and Soumya Chaurasia—the latter a former Deputy Secretary to then Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel—named among the main accused.
All four individuals were arrested in January 2024 following an EOW FIR, but have since been released on bail.
The ED’s recommendation for action is based on a detailed compilation of seized documents, bank records, and witness statements, which the agency claims establish a clear link between administrative decisions and the flow of illegal funds.
Government Review and Next Steps
The Chhattisgarh government and the EOW are expected to review the ED’s report before initiating further proceedings. The case has attracted nationwide attention due to the scale of the alleged corruption and the involvement of senior public officials.
Fresh Raids in Custom Milling Scam
In a parallel development, the ED has conducted fresh raids in connection with the Custom Milling Scam, carrying out searches in Raipur, Bilaspur, and Dhamtari.
The raids targeted premises linked to the Raheja and Sultania business groups, with investigators seizing financial records and documents related to suspected money laundering and irregular transactions in the rice milling and trading sector.
The agency is now scrutinising the recovered materials to trace unaccounted funds, determine the extent of the money trail, and identify any nexus between business entities and public officials involved in the alleged malpractice.