IAS Officer Ranu Sahu’s remand extended till August 18; Government suspends her amid ongoing investigation

Raipur IAS officer Ranu Sahu’s judicial remand has been extended until August 18, as revealed by sources. Sahu, who is currently facing allegations related to a coal levy scam, was not presented in court on Friday. She remained in the Central Jail, while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) continues to investigate the case against her. The ED has accused Ranu Sahu of being involved in transactions amounting to crores of rupees. The IAS officer was apprehended by the ED on July 22 when she held the position of director in the agriculture department. Subsequent to her arrest, the government has taken the step of suspending her from her official duties. Prior to this controversy, Sahu had served as the collector of Raigarh district. The legal proceedings also involve Nikhil Chandra, an associate of imprisoned businessman Suryakant Tiwari, who was also implicated in the coal case. The court has ordered Chandra’s judicial remand until August 18. ED’s lawyer Saurabh Pandey underscored the gravity of the allegations against the IAS officer, stating that she has been detained in connection with the coal levy scam. Pandey noted that during previous interrogations, the IAS officer consistently provided evasive answers and avoided cooperation. The authorities had intended to question her regarding verification of fitness and documents, but she repeatedly claimed ignorance. The legal argument put forth by the prosecution is that due to her influential position and lack of cooperation, releasing her at this juncture would be inappropriate, leading to the extension of her remand. Ranu Sahu’s ancestral home came under the scrutiny of the ED last year when raids were conducted in connection with allegations of money laundering and illegal coal collection. These actions were initiated while she held the position of collector. Officials from the ED carried out searches in her ancestral village, Panduka, located in the Gariaband district. The Sahu family has ties to the political realm, with Lakshmi Sahu, a member of the District Panchayat, being Ranu Sahu’s mother, and Shailendra Sahu, a Congress leader, being her maternal uncle. Further investigation revealed information about a 12-acre pond property registered under the family’s name in Mainpur. Additionally, the ED recently attached properties owned by IAS officers, coal traders, and certain Congress legislators as part of its efforts related to the coal case. A total of about 90 properties, including luxury vehicles, jewelry, and cash, were seized across the state. This asset seizure, valued at approximately 514 million rupees, encompassed holdings belonging to individuals like Ranu Sahu, businessman Suryakant Tiwari, Congress legislator Devendra Yadav, and legislator Chandradev Rai. These actions were taken in connection with the coal extortion scandal, and the ED stated that properties worth around 2.215 billion rupees have been attached in relation to the case. The legal proceedings continue to unfold, with discussions concerning Ranu Sahu’s bail scheduled for August 5. Her legal team argued that multiple raids and interrogations have caused her undue harassment, alleging political motivations behind her ordeal. The court has set a deadline of August 5 for the ED to present their counterarguments. The ED is reportedly striving to prevent Ranu Sahu from being granted bail in light of the ongoing investigation.