Today(13th Sept), The Supreme Court has requested the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to respond to Saumya Chaurasia’s third bail plea in the high-profile Chhattisgarh coal scam money laundering case. The next hearing is scheduled for September 20.
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NEW DELHI: Today(13th Sept), The Supreme Court of India, requested the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to respond to the bail plea of suspended bureaucrat Saumya Chaurasia, who has been embroiled in a high-profile money laundering case related to the Chhattisgarh coal scam. Chaurasia, who previously held the position of Deputy Secretary under former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, is seeking bail for the third time in this case.
The Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan has now scheduled the next hearing on the matter for September 20. Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, along with advocates Pallavi Sharma and Harshwardhan Parganiha, represented Chaurasia in her bid for bail.
The Court was hearing an appeal against the August 28 decision of the Chhattisgarh High Court, which had denied Chaurasia’s third request for bail. The bureaucrat has been behind bars since December 2022, facing serious allegations in connection with the state’s infamous coal scam. The case has been widely regarded as one of the largest corruption scandals in Chhattisgarh.
The money laundering case, filed by the Enforcement Directorate, involves accusations of illegal levies and extortion within the coal mining and transportation sectors of the state. According to the ED, the scam involved a staggering Rs. 500 crore, allegedly siphoned off over a span of 16 months. These funds, the ED claims, were funneled for illicit purposes, including election financing and bribery.
The central agency asserts that Chaurasia played a pivotal role in the scam. It is their case that she used her position in the Chief Minister’s office to aid in the purchase of benami assets, which ultimately benefited the coal mafia. The ED further alleges that Chaurasia exerted undue influence on her fellow officers, pressuring them to comply with the illegal activities.
However, Chaurasia has consistently denied these accusations. Through her legal team, she has argued that no tangible evidence directly links her to the money laundering activities in question. She has further pointed out that despite extensive investigations, no recovery of the alleged Rs. 500 crore has been made from her.
“There is no substantial evidence against me.”
-Chaurasia has argued, maintaining her innocence throughout the legal proceedings.
This is not the first time Chaurasia has sought bail in connection with this case. On December 14, 2022, the Supreme Court had already dismissed her earlier bail plea, stating that her petition had been based on misleading facts. At that time, the court not only denied her request but also imposed a fine of Rs. 1 lakh for what was described as a misrepresentation of key details in her petition.
The issue at hand was that the chargesheet had been filed after the judgment had been reserved, yet Chaurasia’s petition claimed that the chargesheet had not been factored into the case. The court took a strong stance on this discrepancy, highlighting that her petition falsely implied that the charges of criminal conspiracy and extortion had been dropped.
The court had sternly remarked that-
“Such conduct constitutes a blatant attempt to distort the facts.”
making it clear that such actions would not be tolerated.
The alleged Rs. 500 crore scam is at the heart of this case. According to the Enforcement Directorate, illegal levies were collected from coal miners and transporters, and this money was systematically funneled into a broader web of corruption. The funds were allegedly used for election-related purposes and to pay bribes to various government officials.
Chaurasia’s role, according to the ED, was central to this network. They claim she helped facilitate the illegal activities through her connections in the Chief Minister’s office, and used her position to protect and benefit the coal mafia operating in the state. Additionally, it is alleged that she helped the accused individuals purchase assets under false names to further conceal the illicit nature of the money.
On the other hand, Chaurasia has maintained that the ED has failed to produce any solid evidence linking her to the money laundering operation. She has repeatedly pointed out that, despite the serious nature of the accusations, the authorities have yet to recover any money directly from her possession.
Her defense team emphasized this lack of recovery in their appeal, arguing that the prolonged incarceration without sufficient evidence was unwarranted. However, despite these assertions, the courts have thus far sided with the ED, pointing to the gravity of the accusations and the extensive investigation that has taken place.
