ED Posts Notice Outside Bhilai Home; In Jail for 16 Months
Raipur
In a major action against Soumya Chaurasia, the Enforcement Directorate has attached more than 50 properties. A notice has been posted outside her house by the ED. Among the attached properties is her residence in Surya Apartment, Bhilai.
Soumya, once a powerful and influential officer in the previous Congress government, had served as Deputy Secretary to former CM Bhupesh Baghel. She was arrested by the ED on December 2, 2022, in connection with the coal scam and money laundering case. Since then, she has been in Raipur Central Jail.
The ED had launched an investigation into the alleged illegal collection of Rs 500 crore in the Chhattisgarh coal scam, leading to a money laundering case. Rules were altered for the recovery process, and assets—both movable and immovable—were acquired with the proceeds, many of which are suspected to be benami (held in others’ names).
In the same case, the ED has taken significant action by attaching more than 50 properties and putting up a notice board.
Earlier, the ED had arrested several individuals, including Surya Kant Tiwari, coal washery operator Sunil Agarwal, IAS officers Sameer Vishnoi, Ranu Sahu, and Soumya Chaurasia, on different dates. The ED claims that the scam amounts to around ₹500 crore.
When the ED attaches any property, it does so under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The attachment process is an initial step taken against black money or financial irregularities when the ED has sufficient reasons for action.
Attachment of property by the ED does not imply that it cannot be used. Personal or commercial use is permitted, but the property cannot be bought, sold, or transferred under anyone’s name.
