ED raids before Congress convention in Chhattisgarh: Action on 6 Congress leaders in coal scam, Congress bid – conspiracy to disturb convention

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the locations of 6 Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh on Monday morning. This includes MLAs and party officials. The agency has taken action in the coal levy scam.

3 Congress session is to be held in Chhattisgarh in 4 days on 24th February. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul will also come to this. Earlier ED conducted raids. Congress said that this action is to disturb the convention.

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that the BJP, which is frustrated by the disclosure of Adani's truth and the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, is trying to divert attention. The party will be held at the ED office in Raipur.

CM Baghel gave information by tweeting, said- BJP is frustrated with Adani case

Bhupesh Baghel tweeted on Monday and informed about ED's raids. Wrote- ED has raided the houses of many colleagues including State Congress Treasurer, former Vice President and MLA. After 4 days there is a general convention of Congress in Raipur. Our spirits cannot be broken by stopping our comrades engaged in preparations like this. BJP is frustrated with the success of Bharat Jodo and the truth of Adani being exposed. This is an attempt to divert attention. We will fight and win.

Congress MLA and party treasurer's house raided

The agency has taken action against state Congress treasurer Ram Gopal Agarwal, Bhilai MLA Devendra Yadav, state spokesperson RP Singh, president of Building and Other Construction Workers Board Sunny Agarwal and Vinod Tiwari. Raids were conducted in Raipur's Shriram Nagar, DD Nagar, Geetanjali Nagar, Mova related to them.

Extortion of 500 crores in coal levy scam, one IAS and 9 people jailed

The investigating agency had told that an illegal recovery of Rs 25 was made on every tonne of coal transported in Chhattisgarh. It included politicians, government officials and businessmen. According to ED, illegal recovery of Rs 500 crore was made in 2021. Even in October 2022, ED raided 40 locations in connection with this scam. During this, 4 crore cash, property and documents worth crores were recovered.

In this case, one IAS and 9 businessmen are in jail. On 13 October 2022, Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society-CHIPS CEO Sameer Vishnoi, coal businessman Sunil Agarwal and lawyer-businessman Laxmikant Tiwari were arrested. On October 29, businessman Suryakant Tiwari surrendered in the court. State service officer Saumya Chaurasia was arrested. After this, 4 people including two mineral officers were arrested.

(ASHNA)