NEW DELHI, Feb 20: On the eve of the Congress party’s three-day plenary session in Raipur from February 24, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted searches at multiple locations in Chhattisgarh, including premises linked to Congress leaders in connection with the current investigation into the alleged coal levy money laundering scam.
Official sources said the searches were underway since early Monday morning at over a dozen locations related to Congress MLA Devendra Yadav in Bhilai (Durg district), Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee treasurer Ramgopal Agrawal, chairman of Chhattisgarh State Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Sushil Sunny Agrawal and party’s state spokesperson R.P. Singh in Raipur. The raids also covered premises of some other ruling party leaders.
The officials said the ED was investigating those who have been the beneficiaries of the proceeds of crime of the alleged coal levy scam perpetrated during the tenure of the current government.
The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel hit out at the BJP over searches conducted by the ED at the premises linked to Congress leaders in the State and said such acts would not weaken the morale of party leaders who are engaged in the preparation of the party’s upcoming plenary session. “Today the ED has raided the residence of many of my colleagues, including the treasurer of the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee, the party’s former vice-president and an MLA,” Mr. Baghel said in a tweet.
“There is a plenary session of the Congress in Raipur after four days. Our spirits cannot be broken by stopping our colleagues engaged in preparations for the session through such acts. The 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. The country knows the truth. We will fight and win,” the CM added.
The ED investigation relates to “a massive scam in which an illegal levy of ₹25 was being extorted for every tonne of coal transported in Chhattisgarh by a cartel involving senior bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians and middlemen”, the agency has alleged. Nine persons, including State administrative service officer Saumya Chaurasia, Suryakant Tiwari, his uncle Laxmikant Tiwari, Chhattisgarh cadre IAS officer Sameer Vishnoi and another coal businessman Sunil Agrawal have been arrested by it till now in the case.
(Manas Dasgupta)
