She was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 22, 2023, in connection with an alleged Coal Levy Scam that involves extortion of money from coal transporters and miners in the state.
Academic background and achievements
Ranu Sahu is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 2010 batch who belongs to the Chhattisgarh cadre. She is currently posted as the director of the state agriculture department. She is the second IAS officer in the state who was arrested in the Coal Levy Scam case after Sameer Vishnoi, who was earlier arrested in October 2022.
Ranu Sahu has a distinguished academic record and has achieved several milestones in her educational journey. She has completed her schooling, graduation, post-graduation and professional courses from reputed institutions and has secured top ranks and awards in various examinations and competitions.
Schooling and Graduation
Ranu Sahu completed her schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Raipur, where she was a meritorious student and excelled in academics and extracurricular activities. She secured 95% marks in her Class 10 board exams and 93% marks in her Class 12 board exams. She also participated in various national-level competitions such as National Talent Search Examination (NTSE), National Science Olympiad (NSO) and National Mathematics Olympiad (NMO) and won several prizes and scholarships.
After completing her schooling, Ranu Sahu pursued her graduation from St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai, where she enrolled for a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Mathematics. She was a brilliant student and topped her college in all three years of her graduation. She also won several medals and certificates for her academic performance and co-curricular activities. She graduated with a first class with distinction degree in 2007.
Post-graduation and professional courses
After graduating from St. Xavier’s College, Ranu Sahu joined the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, where she pursued a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Applied Mathematics. She was among the top students of her batch and received several awards and scholarships for her research work and publications. She completed her post-graduation with a first-class distinction degree in 2009.
Ranu Sahu then decided to join the civil services and prepared for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination. She cleared the preliminary, main and interview stages of the exam in her first attempt and secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 13 out of more than 5 lakh candidates who appeared for the exam in 2010. She opted for the IAS as her first choice of service and was allotted the Chhattisgarh cadre.
Ranu Sahu also completed various professional courses during her service as an IAS officer. She underwent training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, where she received training in various aspects of administration, governance, law, ethics, public policy and leadership. She also attended several workshops, seminars and conferences on various topics related to development, environment, agriculture, education, health, women empowerment and social justice.
A brief overview of her parents, siblings and marital status
Ranu Sahu is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 2010 batch who belongs to the Chhattisgarh cadre. She is currently posted as the director of the state agriculture department. She was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 22, 2023, in connection with an alleged coal levy scam that involves extortion of money from coal transporters and miners in the state. She is the second IAS officer to be arrested in the case after Sameer Vishnoi, who was arrested in October 2022.
Ranu Sahu comes from a humble family background and has achieved success through her hard work and dedication. She was born in a small village called Bhagwanpur in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh. Her father, Ram Prasad Sahu, is a retired government teacher and her mother, Sushila Sahu, is a homemaker. She has two siblings: a brother and a sister. Her brother, Rajesh Sahu, is an engineer and her sister, Rashmi Sahu, is a doctor.
Marriage
Ranu Sahu is married to Amit Kumar, who is also an IAS officer of the 2010 batch and belongs to the Madhya Pradesh cadre. They have a son named Aryan.
A supportive and encouraging family
Ranu Sahu’s family has been very supportive and encouraging of her education and career aspirations. Her parents always motivated her to study hard and pursue her dreams. They also provided her with all the facilities and opportunities to excel in academics and extracurricular activities. Her father, who was a teacher himself, taught her mathematics and science at home and helped her prepare for various competitive exams. Her mother took care of her household chores and ensured that she had a comfortable and conducive environment for learning. Her siblings also inspired her with their achievements and guidance.
A happy and harmonious marriage
Ranu Sahu met her husband Amit Kumar during their training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, where they fell in love and decided to get married. They tied the knot in 2011 after completing their training and getting their cadre allocation. They have been happily married for over 12 years and have a son named Aryan, who is 10 years old. They have managed to balance their professional and personal lives despite being posted in different states. They often visit each other’s places of posting and spend quality time with their son and families.
Arrest in Alleged Money Laundering Scandal
Ranu Sahu, a notable figure in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and member of the 2010 batch hailing from the Chhattisgarh cadre, was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 22, 2023. The arrest is linked to an ongoing investigation into a purported coal levy scheme, which involves claims of illegal monetary extraction from coal transporters and miners within the state.
Sahu, presently serving as the director of the state agriculture department, is the second IAS officer to face arrest in this case, following the apprehension of Sameer Vishnoi in October 2022.
District Collector to Director
The journey from District Collector to Director Sahu’s distinguished career has seen her serve as the collector for two of Chhattisgarh’s coal-rich districts: Korba and Raigarh. Her tenure as Korba’s collector spanned from June 2021 to June 2022, after which she took up the same position in Raigarh until February 2023. She was then reassigned as the director of the state agriculture department.
The ED maintains that Sahu maintained contact with Suryakant Tiwari, the primary suspect and alleged mastermind behind the coal levy scam, through one of Tiwari’s relatives. She is accused of aiding Tiwari’s business operations and accepting money in return.
Involvement in Coal Levy Scam
ED Raids and Subsequent Arrest As part of the ongoing money laundering investigation, the ED carried out a raid on Sahu’s Raipur residence on July 21, 2023. Similar actions were taken against other politicians, bureaucrats, and businesspeople suspected of links to the scandal. Sahu was arrested the following day and presented before a court, which approved a three-day ED custody period. The ED’s legal representative stated that Sahu’s arrest followed the discovery of evidence linking her to the coal levy scandal and illegal possession of funds from criminal activities.
Also Read: Coal Levy Scam: Meaning, Implications, Accused And Recent Status
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