New Delhi, Sep 29: The Enforcement Directorate recommended action against ten senior IAS and IPS officers in connection with Rs 570 crore coal scam in Chhattisgarh under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The recommendation has been sent to Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain and the Economic Offences Wing.
The scam revolved around the conversion of online coal permits to an offline mode, which enabled the collection of illegal levies from coal traders.
The conversion allegedly created an avenue for unauthorised transactions, implicating multiple officials and business leaders in the state.
Former Mines Director, IAS Sameer Vishnoi, was identified as having issued the relevant order in July 2020.
Key accused include businessman Suryakant Tiwari, IAS officers Sameer Vishnoi, Ranu Sahu, and Soumya Chaurasia, who served as Deputy Secretary to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel at the time. All these individuals were arrested in January 2024 after an FIR was filed by the EOW but are currently out on bail.
ED has also conducted raids linked to the Custom Milling Scam.
Fresh searches were carried out in Raipur, Bilaspur, and Dhamtari, targeting premises associated with the Raheja and Sultania groups.
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