The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim bail to suspended IAS officer Ms. Ranu Sahu, businessman Mr. Suryakant Tiwari, and Ms. Saumya Chaurasia, the deputy secretary to former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, in connection with the alleged Chhattisgarh coal levy scam. A bench comprising Justices Mr. Surya Kant and Mr. N Kotiswar Singh ruled in favor of the bail, citing the prolonged nature of the investigation and the need to ensure a fair legal process.
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Justice Mr. Surya Kant, while delivering the order, emphasized the time-consuming nature of the investigation, deeming it appropriate to grant interim bail to the accused. However, the court made it clear that any attempt to influence witnesses, tamper with evidence, or obstruct the investigation would result in the cancellation of the bail, allowing the state to approach the court for necessary action.
The case revolves around an alleged extortion racket in which private individuals, in collusion with politicians and bureaucrats, imposed an illegal levy of Rs. 25 per tonne on coal transported in Chhattisgarh between July 2020 and June 2022. The Enforcement Directorate, which is investigating the matter, claims that approximately Rs. 540 crore was collected through illegal means. The illicit funds were allegedly used for bribing government officials, financing elections, and acquiring assets.
Ms. Ranu Sahu, a 2010-batch IAS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, was arrested in 2023 while serving as the director of the state agriculture department. She was the second IAS officer to be arrested in the case after Mr. Sameer Vishnoi, who was arrested in 2022. Ms. Saumya Chaurasia, another key accused in the case, was taken into custody in 2022. The Enforcement Directorate has so far arrested 11 individuals in connection with the scam, filed three prosecution complaints against 26 accused persons, and attached properties worth Rs. 270 crore.
As the legal battle continues, the investigation remains ongoing, with authorities closely monitoring any developments related to the case.
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