Team News Riveting
Raipur, March 28
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted raids at the premises of Sarda Energy and Minerals Limited (SEML) reportedly in connection with the infamous Chhattisgarh coal levy scam.
The Chhattisgarh-based SEML, an arm of Sarda Group, is a listed company on the stock exchange. A vertically integrated producer of steel with captive iron ore, the company is manufacturer and exporter of niche grade manganese based ferro alloys, and had recently received an approval from Chhattisgarh’s green board for the capacity expansion.
The ED officials on Tuesday morning reached the residence of the company’s owner in Shankar Nagar, the office located in Devendra Nagar and other premises. The team was escorted by the sleuths of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Neither the SEML nor the ED officials were available for a comment on the unfolding development.
Sources said the action was in connection with the coal levy scam and the ED had received some links of the company during the course of investigation. The central agency had earlier arrested nine people including IAS officer Sameer Vishnoi, State Administrative Service Officer Soumya Chaurasia businessmen Suryakant Tiwari and his uncle Laxmikant Tiwari and coal trader Sunil Agrawal in connection with the scam.
The ED 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 charged an illegal levy of Rs 25 for every tonne of coal transported in Chhattisgarh by a cartel involving bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians and middlemen. Over Rs 500 crore had been reportedly collected by the cartel.
Besides Sarda Group, the economic intelligence agency also conducted raids at the establishments of a Chartered Accountant staying in Karishma VIP apartment and a property dealer of Mandir Hasaud. Unconfirmed report said the ED team had reached the premises of an MLA of the ruling Congress party.
