EOW Drops Explosive Chargesheet in Chhattisgarh Coal Levy Syndicate

Unraveling the inner workings of the multi-crore coal levy scam that operated during the previous Congress regime in Chhattisgarh, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has submitted an explosive supplementary chargesheet before the competent court in Raipur. The investigative report details how a seed borrowing of just ₹5 crore was leveraged to construct an illicit extortion empire amassing over ₹500 crore. According to the state anti-corruption agency, this initial capital established physical infrastructure, regional checkpoints, dedicated operational staff, and transport monitoring across mining corridors, turning illegal collections on coal movement into an institutionalized parallel machinery with deep political and bureaucratic links.The ₹5 Crore Blueprint: How the Extortion Infrastructure Was Set UpThe supplementary chargesheet pieces together the timeline and financial mechanics used to launch the syndicate:Procuring Seed Capital: Between May and June 2020, syndicate organizers required upfront operational funds to construct administrative bases and deploy ground teams.Bhilai to Raipur Money Trail: The initial ₹5 crore loan was secured from Bhilai-based businessman Pappu Bansal, with the cash transported to Raipur and handed over to prime accused Suryakant Tiwari.District-Level Syndicate Deployment: This capital was deployed to rent operational offices across key districts, purchase transit vehicles, hire enforcers, and build a network of associates tasked with extracting illicit levies from coal transporters and washeries.The 1,028 Diary Entries: Mapping the ₹500 Crore Transaction TrailA central piece of documentary evidence cited in the EOW filings is the personal ledger seized from the key accused:Handwritten Evidence: The investigating agency recovered a personal diary belonging to Suryakant Tiwari containing 1,028 separate handwritten ledger entries.Accounting for ₹500 Crores: These entries document cash flows, pay-offs, and systematic levy extractions totaling approximately ₹500 crore across the operational lifespan of the syndicate.Triangulating Digital Proof: The agency cross-verified the diary entries against witness statements, electronic banking footprints, and seized digital devices to reconstruct the financial network.Bureaucratic Chats on Secret Raids: WhatsApp Logs Submitted in CourtThe EOW's supplementary filings include high-level bureaucratic communications dating back to 2019:WhatsApp Exchange of June 15, 2019: The chargesheet includes chat transcripts between the then Secretary of Mineral Resources, Anbalagan P., and now-retired IAS officer Anil Tuteja.The Korba Washery Raids: The messages were exchanged regarding discreet enforcement raids conducted on coal washery facilities operating in Korba.Link to Administrative Knowledge: During the text exchange, an officer noted in English that "the then Chief Minister is fully aware of this." The EOW has placed this communication on record to establish top-level administrative awareness of actions and parallel developments surrounding the coal operations.