New Delhi, Jan 12 (UNI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Raipur Zonal Office, stated on Monday that it has attached eight immovable properties, comprising land parcels and residential flats valued at Rs. 2.66 crore, belonging to Saumya Chaurasia and Nikhil Chandrakar.
These properties, held in the names of their relatives, were acquired using the Proceeds of Crime generated from scheduled offences, including the illegal collection of a coal levy and other extortion activities.
The ED initiated its PMLA investigation based on an FIR registered by the Bengaluru Police, the ACB Raipur, and a chargesheet filed by the Income Tax Department concerning the illegal collection of a coal levy in Chhattisgarh.
The investigation revealed that a group of private individuals, in active connivance with senior state politicians and bureaucrats, formed a racket to extort money from coal transporters at a rate of Rs. 25 per tonne of coal transported between July 2020 and June 2022. During this period, the syndicate illegally collected approximately Rs. 540 crore. The extorted cash, constituting Proceeds of Crime, was used to bribe government officials and politicians, fund election-related expenses, and acquire movable and immovable assets. So far, properties worth Rs. 273 crore belonging to the accused have been identified and attached.
During the investigation, the ED has arrested 11 persons. To date, five Prosecution Complaints against 35 accused have been filed before the Hon’ble Special Court (PMLA). Further investigation is ongoing.
ED attaches properties worth Rs. 2.66 cr in Chhattisgarh coal levy scam
