Chhattisgarh Coal Levy Scam: Court to Rule on Suryakant Tripathi’s Jail Change

The special court will today address the matter of transferring Suryakant Tripathi, a key figure in the Chhattisgarh coal levy scam, to a different jail. The jail administration has requested Tripathi’s move to Ambikapur jail, stating that he has been causing trouble and not cooperating with jail officials. This legal proceeding follows a court directive for the relocation of all individuals implicated in excise, coal, and custom milling cases to various jails within the state. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized properties worth over Rs 49.73 crore, linked to Suryakant Tiwari and other suspects. The ED’s investigation established that an illegal levy of Rs 25 per ton of coal was collected from July 2020 to June 2022, allegedly through a network involving senior officials and politicians. This illicit fund, amounting to approximately Rs 570 crore, was reportedly utilized for bribery and electoral purposes.