Coal Levy Scam: Businessman Suryakant Tiwari and officials accused of orchestrating Rs 540 crore scam

Raipur
In a major development, the Enforcement Directorate’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has uncovered a massive coal scam in Raipur, with businessman Suryakant Tiwari at its helm. The scam, estimated at a staggering Rs 540 crore, involved a complex network of individuals, including IAS officers, politicians, and officials from the mineral department.

The FIR filed by the ED reveals a well-coordinated effort to manipulate the coal transportation system in the state. Suryakant Tiwari, along with accomplices Soumya Chourasia, IAS officers Sameer Vishnoi, and Ranu Sahu, allegedly devised a scheme to impose an illicit levy of Rs 25 per quintal on coal transportation. The ED’s investigation exposed a syndicate where businessmen collaborated with high-ranking officers and politicians to exploit the system.

The modus operandi of the coal levy scam involved influencing key officials, including the then Director of Geology and Mining, IAS Sameer Vishnoi, to issue manual orders for online transport permits. The ED suggests that Suryakant Tiwari, in collaboration with political figures, used the proceeds to purchase anonymous properties and fund political activities through Soumya Chourasia.

The investigation uncovered the extensive reach of the syndicate, with individuals across different regions collecting payments from coal transporters. Non-compliance with the coal levy allegedly resulted in the denial of necessary permits or legal action initiated against the defaulters.

Suryakant Tiwari’s extortion activities reportedly extended beyond coal to include iron pellets and DMP from iron pellet manufacturers. The ED’s FIR specified that the funds collected from these activities were stored in Tiwari’s residence in Anupam Nagar.

Politicians and legislators were not exempt from the alleged coercion, as the FIR highlighted specific amounts distributed among them. Congress treasurer Ramgopal Agrawal allegedly received the highest amount of Rs 52 crore, followed by Rs 3 crore to MLA Devendra Yadav for Khairagarh by-election and other expenses.

The ED’s investigation also led to the seizure of benami properties belonging to key individuals involved in the scam. Sameer Vishnoi, Soumya Chourasia, and Ranu Sahu were mentioned, with properties worth crores identified and seized.

The ED emphasized the need for local Anti-Corruption Bureau assistance to thoroughly investigate the ill-gotten wealth acquired by government officials through the coal levy syndicate.

This detailed report sheds light on the alleged coal levy scam orchestrated by Suryakant Tiwari, implicating various individuals, including politicians and bureaucrats, in the illicit activities associated with the scandal. The investigation is expected to have significant repercussions on both the political and business landscapes in Raipur.