Raipur
The Fourth Additional District and Sessions Judge of the Special Court, Ajay Singh Rajput,has accepted the remand application of the Enforcement Directorate of the accused in the coal levying case Deepesh Taunk, mining officer Shivshankar Nag and Sandeep Naik, and Rajesh Choudhary and sent them to three-day remand.
The Enforcement Directorate had sought the remand of these accused in the court on Friday. High Court advocate Kishore Bhaduri presented the case on behalf of Deepesh and sought a relief for him, however he could not prevent the ED to taking remand.
The ED will again produce all the four accused in the court on January 30. The ED will investigate the mining officer regarding coal scam and illegal extortion. ED has accused Deepesh of purchasing the property and subsequently sold to Chaurasia family in which money extorted from the coal levying was used.
Deepesh’s counsel told the court that the money which is being investigated by the ED has been earned by selling vegetables. Questioning the ED action, defence counsel Faisal Rizvi said that arrest is being done in every two months to extend the time limit only. Deepesh also denied the report of being beaten by the ED in the court when asked by the Judge.
The ED also replied to the allegation that it has harassed the accused. However, the ED could submit the reply in one case and therefore it was asked to submit the reply in other cases on other dates.
Rajesh Choudhary, who has been arrested by the ED from Mumbai, allegedly duped one of the accused serving jail in coal levying case of Rs20 lakh promising that he can help him out. “I know the ED joint director and other senior officers who can provide relief on his recommendation,” Chaoudhary, who is called ‘Bunty-Bataulbaz’ told one of the accused.
A supplementary challan of chief minister’s deputy secretary Soumya Chaurasia is likely to be presented in the court on January 30. The arrest of Soumya Chourasia will complete two months on February 1.
