Chhattisgarh: ED attaches assets worth ₹2.66 crore linked to coal levy ‘scam’

The attached assets, comprising land parcels and residential flats, are linked to former CM Bhupesh Baghel’s deputy secretary Saumya Chaurasia and her associate Nikhil Chandrakar.

Published on: Jan 13, 2026, 13:48:42 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached eight immovable properties worth ₹2.66 crore in connection with the alleged illegal coal levy racket in Chhattisgarh, officials said on Tuesday.

The attached assets, comprising land parcels and residential flats, are linked to former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel’s deputy secretary Saumya Chaurasia and her associate Nikhil Chandrakar. The agency said the properties were acquired in the names of their relatives using proceeds of crime generated from the illegal collection of coal levy and other extortion activities.

According to the ED, the action was taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, following investigations initiated on the basis of FIRs registered by the Bengaluru Police and the economic offences wing anti-corruption bureau (EOW-ACB), Raipur, as well as a prosecution complaint filed by the Income Tax Department.

The probe has revealed that between July 2020 and June 2022, a syndicate comprising private individuals, allegedly acting in connivance with senior politicians and bureaucrats, extorted money from coal transporters at the rate of ₹25 per tonne of coal transported. Officials claimed that around ₹540 crore was illegally collected during this period.

The ED said the alleged extorted cash, treated as proceeds of crime, was used to bribe government officials and politicians, fund election related expenses, and acquire movable and immovable assets.

So far, properties worth about ₹273 crore linked to the accused have been identified and attached in the case. The agency has arrested 11 people and filed five prosecution complaints before a special PMLA court against 35 accused persons, including politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen, officials said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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