Raipur: Economic Offences Wing/Anti-Corruption Bureau (EOW/ACB) of Chhattisgarh on October 14 chargesheeted suspended state administrative service official, Soumya Chaurasia in connection with a case of disproportionate assets.
Chaurasia, a former OSD and deputy secretary of ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel is also an accused in multiple alleged scams being investigated by EOW and other agencies.
In the 8000 page chargesheet filed by EOW, the agency has accused Chauarasia for allegedly amassing assets and investments more than 18 times higher than her known sources of income.
As per reports, the agency during its investigation has found Chaurasia’s assets and investments to be worth Rs 49.69 crore which is nearly 19 [1,872 per cent] times higher than her regular income of Rs 2.52 crore during her 17 years of service as a government employee.
Investigation into the case has revealed that Chaurasia allegedly made heavy investments in real estate by buying properties on the names of her relatives and other individuals between 2019 to 2022. She reportedly purchased at least 45 immovable properties across multiple cities including Raipur and Durg.
These properties were procure on the name of Soumya’s mother, husband, cousin, and others. As per details, majority of the benami investment made by Chaurasia was between 2019 to 2022. Reports suggest that this, probably is the largest case of disproportionate assets against a government employee in the state.
Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Saumya Chaurasia in connection with a money laundering case linked with Rs 540-crore alleged coal levy scam in December 2022. She was granted conditional bail by Supreme Court in September this year.
Other than coal levy scam and disproportionate asset case, Chaurasia a 2008-batch officer was also named in misuse of District Mineral Foundation [DMF] fund case.
Notably, EOW had registered an FIR against Chaurasia under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act on charges of accumulating assets beyond capacity. The case stems from the ED’s investigation which pertains to procurement of 29 immovable assets by Chaurasiya and her family members between 2021 and 2022.
