Chhattisgarh: Premises of deputy secretary in Baghel’s office amid those raided

A person aware of the matter said ED was conducting raids including at two locations linked to Saumya Chaurasia, a Chhattisgarh Administrative Service who joined Baghel’s office soon after he became the chief minister in December 2018

Updated on: Oct 11, 2022, 12:15:55 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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The Enforcement Directorate ( ED) is conducting raids at eight locations, including two linked to a deputy secretary in chief minister Bhupesh Baghel’s office and three Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, in Chhattisgarh’s Durg, Raigarh, and Mahasamund districts, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel (HT Photo)

The searches started around 5am. A person aware of the matter said they were going on including at two locations linked to Saumya Chaurasia, a Chhattisgarh Administrative Service who joined Baghel’s office soon after he became the chief minister in December 2018, in Durg.

Premises of IAS officers including Raigarh collector Ranu Sahu, Jai Prakash Maurya, and Sameer Bishnoi were also being raided along with that of Surya Kant Tiwari, a businessman considered to be close to politicians and bureaucrats, and a chartered accountant in Raipur.

Ruling Congress leader RP Singh hit out at the Centre over the raids and said they were part of an attempt to disturb Congress’s government in Chhattisgarh. “They conducted a search in 2020 at Chaurasia’s house but found nothing...now they are again doing it. Why are the raids not conducted in BJP [Bharatiya Janta Party] ruled states? This is a conspiracy to destabilise the Congress government.”

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

Bhupesh Baghel

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