Team News Riveting
Raipur, February 20
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday raided the premises of the six prominent Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh allegedly in connection with the state’s infamous coal levy scam.
The action added significance as the leaders grilled by the economic intelligence agency were actively involvement in the arrangement of Congress’ 85th AICC Plenary Session, to be held in Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur from February 24 to 26. Over 15,000 delegates would be attending the session for which final preparation was going on when the stunning ED action came.
Three dozen ED teams escorted by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel today morning struck at two dozen places. Besides Raipur, the teams struck at Bhilai and Dhamtari.
The leaders who came under the scanner included Durg MLA Devendra Yadav, Chhattisgarh Congress treasurer Ramgopal Agrawal, Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC) Chairman Girish Dewangan, Chairman of Building Workers’ Welfare Board Sushil Sunny Agrawal and state Congress spokesperson R P Singh.
All the leaders covered in the raids had a key role in making the arrangement for the Congress’ conclave and were actively involved in the preparation that was in the last stages.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel took a strong exception over the timing of the raid and said in a tweet, “”There is a Congress convention in Raipur in four days. Our spirit can’t be broken by stopping our leaders… the BJP is frustrated with the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the truth of Adani being exposed. This raid is an attempt to divert attention. The country knows the truth. We will fight and win.”
The ED had been taking action against those involved in the coal levy scam. It had alleged that of the total kickbacks in the coal levy, Rs 52 crore went to the senior leader of a political party and Rs 4 crore to some Chhattisgarh MLAs. The central agency has alleged a massive scam that charges an illegal levy of Rs 25 for every tonne of coal transported in Chhattisgarh by a cartel involving bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians and middlemen.
Nine people have been arrested in the coal levy case so far including IAS officer Sameer Vishnoi, State Administrative Service Officer Soumya Chaurasia businessmen Suryakant Tiwari and his uncle Laxmikant Tiwari and coal trader Sunil Agrawal.
