Money laundering probe: ED raids IAS officers, businessmen in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted a series of raids in Chhattisgarh, targeting high-profile individuals including IAS officers, a prominent state Congress leader, and businessmen, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering activities.
The ED officials conducted searches at the residences of IAS officer Ranu Sahu, whose premises were searched on a previous occasion in connection with the probe into an illegal coal levy scam.It is worth noting that her spouse, J P Maurya, is also a senior bureaucrat in Chhattisgarh.
Additionally, several other bureaucrats were also under the scanner during the operation. The ED team also visited the premises of Chhattisgarh treasurer, Ramgopal Agarwal, the sources said. However, the ruling Congress in the state is yet to react to the fresh raids.
Similarly, searches are being carried out at the premises of Korba municipal corporation commissioner Prabhakar Pandey. The specific case in which these fresh raids are being carried out is not immediately known.
Prior to this, the ED had conducted raids at several places in connection with the probe into the alleged illegal coal levy scam and had subsequently arrested an IAS officer, a powerful state administrative service official, and a couple of businessmen, all of whom are now in judicial custody. Moreover, the ED had also exposed an alleged liquor scam worth more than Rs 2,000 crore in Chhattisgarh, leading to the arrest of businessmen under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.