In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached a total of eight immovable properties, including land parcels and residential flats, in connection with a major money laundering probe linked to an alleged coal levy extortion racket in Chhattisgarh. The agency alleges that the illicit funds generated were used to finance election expenses and bribe politicians.
Provisional Attachment Under PMLA
The action was taken under the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The attached properties are believed to represent the proceeds of crime derived from the extortion network. According to the ED's investigation, a well-organized syndicate was involved in collecting a massive illegal levy on coal transportation in the state.
Alleged Use of Extortion Funds
The central probe agency has made serious allegations regarding the final use of the laundered money. The ED claims that a substantial portion of the extorted funds was diverted to cover election-related expenditures for certain political entities and candidates. Furthermore, the money was also allegedly used to bribe politicians and influence the political process in the region.
This revelation points to a dangerous nexus between illegal mining operations, organized extortion, and the funding of electoral politics. The case underscores how proceeds from corruption can be funneled into the democratic process, potentially undermining its integrity.
Ongoing Investigation and Implications
The provisional attachment of properties, dated 12 January 2026, is a mid-investigation step that prevents the accused from selling or transferring these assets. The ED's move is based on evidence gathered so far, indicating that these assets were acquired using the tainted money from the coal levy scam.
The investigation remains active and is expected to widen further. The agency is tracing the entire money trail to identify all beneficiaries and the full scale of the financial network. This case is being closely watched as it sits at the intersection of natural resource plunder, financial crime, and political corruption.
The development in Chhattisgarh highlights the ongoing challenges in regulating the coal and mining sector and the persistent risks of illegal funds entering the political ecosystem. It also demonstrates the increasing use of the PMLA by central agencies to target alleged corruption and money laundering networks with significant political ramifications.
