A state civil services officer, then engaged as deputy secretary to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, was the alleged “key person” in creating the syndicate led by Suryakant Tiwari and “directly acquired proceeds of crime to an extent of more than Rs 30 crore”, according to the prosecution complaint (chargesheet) filed on Monday by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in the coal levy case.
The accused officer, Saumya Chaurasia, has denied the charge.
Her lawyer, Faizal Rizvi, told The Indian Express, “There is no evidence against my client. This is a politically motivated case to destabilise the (Congress-led) Chhattisgarh government. We will apply for her bail in a week’s time.”
