Daijiworld Media Network – Raipur
Raipur, Dec 20: Secret codewords, WhatsApp chats, and seemingly harmless group names have unveiled a sprawling network of corruption in Chhattisgarh, implicating multiple officials in coal and liquor scams that rocked the state. Investigating agencies say the digital trail has exposed a well-orchestrated syndicate allegedly extorting Rs 540 crore while operating in coded language to evade detection.
NDTV earlier reported that the liquor scam operated through a WhatsApp group ominously called the “Big Boss Group”, where key players used aliases — for instance, "Bittu" allegedly referred to Chaitanya Baghel. Cash collections, liquor consignments, and payments were conducted via cryptic language to avoid scrutiny.
The coal levy scam appears to have followed a similar playbook. Syndicate members reportedly created multiple WhatsApp groups — Pal, Durg, Weekly, Tower, and Jugnu — to manage illegal collections and accounts. Words like “Gira” or “In” signalled receipt of payments. The Raigarh network, investigators say, was coordinated by Navneet Tiwari.
1,000 page chargesheet filed
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Monday filed a 1,000-page chargesheet in the coal levy scam against Jaychand Kosle, private secretary to Saumya Chaurasia, who served as deputy secretary to former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
EOW alleged that Chaurasia brought Kosle, then a record keeper at Raipur Municipal Corporation, into the Chief Minister’s House specifically for collection-related work. Kosle, posted at the CMO during Chaurasia's tenure, was entrusted with moving critical files, securing signatures, and ensuring sensitive documents reached officials safely. Investigators say he was provided two government vehicles (CG-02 registration) for these tasks.
WhatsApp messages between June 25, 2019, and Jan 31, 2020, cited by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), revealed syndicate coordination. In one message, Chaurasia allegedly instructed Anil Tuteja: “Get it checked and returned immediately. Jay will take it directly to the CM and get it signed.”
Extortion, double levies and property seizures
The FIR and subsequent investigation revealed that coal syndicate members extorted approximately Rs 540 crore between 2020 and 2022 by threatening coal transporters and businessmen. Illegally collected money was reportedly distributed among members and used to buy properties across multiple locations. So far, authorities have attached property worth Rs 222 crore.
More than 35 individuals have been named as accused, including suspended IAS officers Ranu Sahu and Sameer Vishnoi, Saumya Chaurasia, Suryakant Tiwari, Sunil Agarwal, among others. At least 15 arrests have been made.
The chargesheet also highlights a double-levy system: coal washery operators were allegedly charged Rs 100 per tonne, while transporters paid an additional Rs 25 per tonne when coal moved out of washeries, effectively forcing traders to pay commission twice. Separate offices in Korba and Raigarh were reportedly used to streamline these illegal collections.
Investigators allege the scam was facilitated by manipulating the coal permit system, converting online permits into offline ones to extract money.
The revelations underscore how digital communication tools and coded language were allegedly exploited to orchestrate large-scale corruption, raising urgent calls for tighter oversight in the state’s coal and liquor sectors.