EOW files 9,500-page supplementary chargesheet against 12 in Rs 500 crore-plus coal levy case

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has filed a nearly 9,500-page supplementary chargesheet against 12 accused in the alleged Rs 500 crore-plus illegal coal levy and collection case, citing evidence of criminal conspiracy, misuse of official procedures and transactions involving allegedly illegally acquired money.

The supplementary chargesheet, filed before the Special Court (Prevention of Corruption Act), Raipur, is the sixth chargesheet in Crime No. 03/2024 registered by the EOW. The accused have been booked under Sections 120-B, 420, 384, 467, 468, 471 and 109 of the Indian Penal Code and relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

According to the EOW, its investigation found that an illegal collection of Rs 25 per tonne was allegedly organised from coal businesses and transporters. The money collected from different districts was brought to Raipur, accounted for and subsequently distributed. The investigation also traced its alleged use in political activities, cash transactions and investments in land, washery and other properties.

The investigation also uncovered an alleged illegal collection of Rs 100 per tonne from iron-ore pellet transporters. The chargesheet includes the alleged role of then Director, Geology and Mining, Jai Prakash Maurya, in connection with the arrangement, according to the EOW.

The agency said digital evidence recovered from the mobile phone of accused Anurag Diwan, including an order issued on July 15, 2020, formed an important part of the investigation. According to the EOW, the evidence indicated that the procedure for granting permission for coal transportation was changed despite there being no concrete basis for the alleged revenue loss cited for the change, and approval of the district mineral officer was made mandatory.

The chargesheet also contains details of bookings made in the name of a guest house under the name of the CM House, correspondence involving BALCO and related communications, as well as documents concerning payments of Rs 25 per tonne shown as “Incidental Expenses” in transport bills.

The EOW said the investigation traced the alleged flow and use of the money through diary entries, WhatsApp chats, bank transactions and property documents. The chargesheet details the alleged roles of 12 accused: Ram Gopal Agrawal, Devendra Singh Yadav, Vinod Tiwari, Ram Pratap Singh, Chandradev Prasad Rai, Jai Prakash Maurya, Piyush Kumar Sahu, Jogendra Singh, Anurag Chaurasia, Dinesh Tank, Sunil Kumar Agrawal and Rahul Mishra.

The chargesheet alleges that diary entries linked to Ram Gopal Agrawal recorded Rs 104.20 crore in 32 entries under references including “Bhawan” and “C PARTY”. The EOW said the investigation also found details concerning land purchases and cash payments over and above registered values involving companies linked to his family.

Eleven diary entries linked to Devendra Singh Yadav allegedly recorded Rs 3 crore, including money sent in connection with the Khairagarh by-election. The EOW said it found his alleged role in receiving money from Surya Kant Tiwari and using it for election-related activities and personal purposes.

The chargesheet records 22 entries involving Vinod Tiwari totalling about Rs 2.12 crore. The EOW alleged that he received cash from Surya Kant Tiwari and used it for political activities, including payment of expenses related to the Khairagarh by-election and arrangements involving district panchayat office-bearers and members.

Twenty-five entries under the names “R P Singh” and “RP”, allegedly linked to Ram Pratap Singh, total about Rs 2.93 crore. The EOW alleged that he received cash from Surya Kant Tiwari and used it for personal expenditure, political activities, media management and vehicle arrangements.

Four diary entries linked to former Bhilai Garh MLA Chandradev Prasad Rai allegedly recorded about Rs 49.50 lakh. The EOW said the investigation found that he received cash from Surya Kant Tiwari and used it for election-related expenses, besides receiving ornaments from him.

Two diary entries linked to then Director, Geology and Mining, Jai Prakash Maurya allegedly recorded about Rs 1 crore. The EOW alleged that he received cash from Surya Kant Tiwari, maintained contact with him in matters concerning the mining department and assisted in the alleged illegal collection of money from pellet manufacturers.

The chargesheet also alleges that Piyush Kumar Sahu helped route money received through the coal levy to his sister Ranu Sahu and family members for investment in properties. The EOW said bank accounts of family members were used for transactions relating to the purchase of 13 properties, including payments over and above registered values.

Jogendra Singh, described in the chargesheet as a business partner of Surya Kant Tiwari, allegedly facilitated cash transactions through Jai Ambey Road Lines and provided bank entries from his firms. Transactions involving seven firms and about Rs 40 crore have been detailed in the chargesheet.

The EOW alleged that Anurag Chaurasia helped invest money received from coal levy collections in flats and land purchased in the names of his family members, using accounts of his mother Madhuban and family members for the transactions.

Dinesh Tank has been accused of receiving cash over and above registered values in land deals and showing the cash as agricultural income. The chargesheet also details his continued involvement in Om Agro Farm activities and payments after the land sale.

The EOW alleged that Sunil Kumar Agrawal of Indramani Group retained cash allegedly sent by Surya Kant Tiwari, made further payments from it and facilitated investments in washery purchases. Transactions involving the Indramani Group, washery and land purchases have also been included in the chargesheet.

Rahul Mishra, who was allegedly associated with construction projects involving Surya Kant Tiwari, was accused of keeping substantial cash and returning it through Nikhil Chandrakar when required. The chargesheet details his alleged role in payments related to construction works and keeping cash in safekeeping.

The EOW said further investigation into other suspected persons and remaining transactions has been initiated under Section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, with the permission of the court.