The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Saumya Chaurasi, a Deputy Secretary in the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s Office in relation to the allegations in the Coal Extortion Case. She was summoned for questioning and was subsequently arrested.
ED conducted various searches and made arrests under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act(PMLA), 2002 with regard to the alleged coal extortions. According to the Enforcement Directorate, for each tonne of coal transported in Chhattisgarh, a levy of Rupees 25 per tonne was extorted, allegedly by politicians, businessmen, middle-men and senior bureaucrats.
The investigation into this matter began after an FIR was lodged by the Income Tax Department.
More arrests already made in this case include that of Sameer Vishnoi, an IAS Officer in Chhattisgarh.
The CM Bhupesh Baghel had earlier remarked on the overreach of the investigating agencies and that they were crossing limits and resorting to violence.
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