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The Supreme Court of India has issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a bail plea filed by suspended civil servant Saumya Chaurasia, accused in a money laundering case relating to the Chhattisgarh coal scam. Chaurasia, who previously served as Deputy Secretary to ex-Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, has been in custody for over 1.5 years. Her bail was earlier denied by the Chhattisgarh High Court.
The case was heard by a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, who issued the notice while dealing with Chaurasia's challenge to the August 28, 2024, Chhattisgarh High Court order dismissing her third bail application. The matter is now scheduled for further hearing on September 20, 2024.
Chaurasia's involvement in the alleged coal levy scam, which reportedly involves the illegal collection of ₹25 per tonne of coal from mining transporters, is a key focus of the ED's investigation. According to the agency, this illicit levy generated approximately ₹500 crores over a period of 16 months. The funds were allegedly used for political purposes, including election expenses and the acquisition of benami properties by Chaurasia and others involved in the scam, including coal businessman Suryakant Tiwari.
The ED contends that Chaurasia, leveraging her high-level position, orchestrated the extortion scheme with the assistance of district-level officers. The central agency claims she acquired properties through her family members using funds obtained from the coal levy.
In her defense, Chaurasia argued that her influence has diminished due to her suspension and the change in political leadership in Chhattisgarh. She also sought bail on grounds of parity with co-accused Sunil Kumar Aggarwal, who was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court in May 2024.
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