Raipur: Recently, Income Tax sleuths carried out raids on the premises of business group involved in the coal transportation business, a close aide of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel including Suryakant Tiwari and powerful bureaucrats like CM’s Deputy Secretary Saumya Chaurasia and claimed unearthed and seized disproportionate asset, investment documents worth several hundred crores, earned through illegal means. The disclosure of the IT Department created political turmoil in the state as the BJP adopted an attacking mode.
Disproportionate asset, documents, cash, jewellery and others seized in IT raids which tunes in several crores from the premises of CM's close aide, officers indicates that the ruling Congress government is fully submerged in corruption, alleged ex-CM Dr Raman Singh while addressing a press conference in BJP’s Raipur office on Tuesday.
Within six months two times Income Tax sleuths carried out raids on CM’s Deputy Secretary and found incriminating documents, records of benami transactions, property which tunes in several crores shows that the Chief Minister and his entire government indulged in massive corruption, the ex-CM alleged.
The IT raids which were conducted on June 30, 2022 and unearthed movable and immovable property worth hundreds of crores has brought big embarrassment for Chhattisgarh Mahtari, Raman Singh said.
"We all know that during the transportation of coal, from the coal mines of Korba Rs 25/ton of coal gets collected in the form of levy under the patronage of the ruling Congress government," the BJP Vice President alleged.
Notably, a letter issued by CBDT circulated on social media confirms that raids were carried out on the premises of some state government officers, a group involved in coal transportation business on June 30,2022 in 30 premises spread over in Raipur, Bhilai, Raigarh, Korba, Bilaspur,Surajpur etc..
During the course of the search operation, numerous incriminating documents, loose sheets and digital evidence have been found and seized, Surabhi Ahluwalia , Official Spokesperson, CBDT said.
The modus-operandi followed by the group includes unfair regular collection on coal transportation throughout the State of Chhattisgarh leading to generation of huge unaccounted income. Evidence of such collection of more than Rs. 200 crores during a short time period has been found. The same has been corroborated by the key trusted associates of the group.
Instances of certain cash payments made to government officials have also been identified, CBDT official communique said.
The seized evidence indicates that the group has made unaccounted cash payments of approximately Rs. 45 crores in purchasing coal washeries, and also purchased 50 acres of land.
The IT sleuths also recovered undisclosed cash exceeding Rs. 9.5 crore and jewellery of Rs. 4.5 crores during the raids.
The CBDT in its official release mentioned that the preliminary investigation based on incriminating evidence suggests that the group has evaded income running into a few hundreds of crores.
After the IT Department disclosure state BJP seemed to have adopted a assailing strategy against Baghel government.
Raman Singh demanded that the corrupt Baghel government has no right to remain in power, it has cheated the public of Chhattisgarh. Therefore, CM Baghel must resign on moral grounds, the ex-CM said.
"Perturbed from the stance taken by BJP and disclosures made by CBDT, Congress party also issued a press statement in defense. Raman Singh and his entire government were accused of Rs 36,000 crore NAN scam, he is asking for resignation," Congress mocked.
