A high-profile bureaucrat caught in a money laundering case
Ranu Sahu is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 2010 batch who belongs to the Chhattisgarh cadre. Currently posted as the director of the state agriculture department 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.
From collector to director
Ranu Sahu has served as the collector of two coal-rich districts in Chhattisgarh: Korba and Raigarh. She was posted as the collector of Korba from June 2021 to June 2022 and then as the collector of Raigarh till February 2023. She was then transferred to the state agriculture department as the director. According to the ED, she was in touch with Suryakant Tiwari, the main accused and kingpin of the coal levy scam, through the latter’s relative. She allegedly facilitated Tiwari’s business interests and received money from him.
The ED raids and arrest
The ED conducted raids at Ranu Sahu’s residence in Raipur on July 21, 2023, as part of its ongoing investigation into the money laundering case. The agency also raided the premises of other politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen linked to the scam. The next day, the ED arrested Ranu Sahu and produced her before a court that granted her three days of ED custody. The ED’s lawyer said that she was arrested after finding evidence of her involvement in the coal levy scam and her possession of proceeds of crime.
The charge sheet and attachment
The ED has filed a charge sheet against Ranu Sahu and eight others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the coal levy scam. The agency has also attached her assets worth Rs 5.5 crore, including immovable properties, bank accounts and jewellery. The total value of attached properties in the case stands at about Rs 221.5 crore. The ED has alleged that Ranu Sahu and others extorted money from coal transporters and miners in collusion with Suryakant Tiwari and diverted it to party funds and other individuals.
The political angle
The coal levy scam has a political undercurrent as most of the accused belong to or are close to the ruling Congress party in Chhattisgarh. The ED has claimed that some of the money extorted from the scam was used for funding the Khairagarh bypolls in which Congress candidate Devender Yadav won. Yadav is also an accused in the case and his assets have been attached by the ED. The Congress has alleged that the ED is acting at the behest of the BJP-led central government and targeting its leaders and functionaries.
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