ED Secures 28-Day Remand for Alok Shukla and Anil Tuteja in Chhattisgarh Scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Alok Shukla and Anil Tuteja, former IAS officers, in connection with the Chhattisgarh Civil Supplies Corporation scam. A special court has granted the ED a 28-day remand for questioning. Alok Shukla, the former Chief Secretary, surrendered at the special ED court in Raipur on Monday morning. The ED team took him into custody immediately after the court accepted his surrender application. Anil Tuteja was already in judicial custody and was brought before the court by the ED using a production warrant to finalize his arrest. The ED informed the court that Alok Shukla served as chairman and Anil Tuteja as secretary when the scam took place. The investigation revealed financial misconduct and alleged bribery during their time in office. The ED argued that extensive interrogation based on documented evidence is necessary, which necessitates a longer period of custody. Both officers had earlier been granted anticipatory bail by the High Court, which the Supreme Court later dismissed. The Supreme Court mandated two weeks in ED custody followed by two weeks in judicial custody. The court also pointed out that the officers had attempted to obstruct the investigation launched in 2015.