RAIPUR: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday conducted search operations at several locations in Chhattisgarh as a part of its ongoing money laundering investigation into an illegal coal levy scam reported from the state. Alongside officials in CG, multiple locations in Andhra Pradesh were also searched.
Searches were conducted at multiple locations in Raipur and Bhilai including the house of state Congress treasurer Ram Gopal Agrawal, arrested coal businessman Sunil Agarwal besides a few others were scanned.
Earlier on February 20, the probe agency had arrested nine people including Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel’s deputy secretary, Saumya Chaurasia. This happened after the ED conducted searches at 14 locations across the state.
The ED claims that at least Rs 450 crore was extorted over the last two years under the coal scam. In October 2022, the probe agency recovered Rs 4 crore cash, valuables worth crores, and important documents after conducting raids on 40 locations linked to top Chhattisgarh bureaucrats, politicians, and businessmen.