ED attaches fresh benami assets of Chhattisgarh CM's deputy secretary, coal trader

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday seized illicit assets valued at Rs 17.48 crore rupees belonging to Saumya Chaurasia, a deputy secretary in Chhattisgarh's CM office, and coal trader Suryakant Tiwari, who have been arrested in connection to the coal levy scandal.
Of the 51 provisional properties, eight worth Rs 7.57 crore are "owned" by Chaurasia and the remaining 43 are "controlled" by Tiwari, according to the federal agency's statement.

The ED had also issued last year a similar attachment order for assets under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) of the two accused and a few others. With the latest action, the total value of attached properties in this case stands at about Rs 170 crore.

The ED investigation relates to "a massive scam in which illegal levy of Rs 25 was being extorted for every tonne of coal transported in Chhattisgarh by a cartel involving senior bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians and middlemen", the agency has alleged.
Nine people including Chaurasia and Tiwari have been arrested in the case till now.
(With inputs from PTI)