Chhattisgarh coal levy scam: ED raids Congress mayor’s premises in Raipur
Sources said the Enforcement Directorate has also conducted searches at the residences of a senior government official and a businessman whose names cropped up during investigation.
ED officials refused to comment on the matter, but hinted that an investigation agency can always file a supplementary chargesheet and name other accused in the case after their roles are established with evidence. (File) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) continued its raids in connection with the Chhattisgarh coal levy scam on Wednesday, raiding the residential premises of three to four people, including Congress leader and Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar, a businessman and a senior government official.
According to the ED, a cartel involving senior bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians and middlemen was allegedly extorting a levy of Rs 25 per tonne for coal transported into Chhattisgarh.
The proceeds of the crime, the ED alleged, were being used for “investing in benami assets, bribing officials to influence senior officers and also used by or on behalf of political executives of the state”. As per 3,000 diary entries analysed by the ED, the total amount levy collected is Rs 540 crore. The ED has also submitted details of Rs 277 crore spent out of the Rs 540 crore.
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