ED seizes 90 immovable properties and cash worth Rs 51 Cr in Chhattisgarh’s illegal coal levy scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached 90 immovable properties, luxurious vehicles, jewellery and cash worth over 51 crore rupees in the Chhattisgarh illegal coal levy extortion scam. The properties belong to IAS officer Ranu Sahu, MLAs Devender Yadav and  Chandradev Prasad Rai, businessman Suryakant Tiwari and others.

During the investigations, direct evidence of the financial linkages of these persons with Mr. Tiwari were established.

Earlier, the ED had attached properties worth 170 crore rupees of Mr. Tiwari, IAS officer Sameer Vishnoi, Chhattisgarh Civil Service Officer, Saumya Chaurasia and others. So far, over 221 crore rupees have been attached in this case.

The ED has initiated a money laundering investigation based on the FIR lodged on the complaint of the Income Tax Department. Searches at more than 145 premises have been conducted, and so far, nine persons have been arrested.

The investigation has established that proceeds of crime worth 540 crore rupees were acquired in this extortion racket.