Special Court (Prevention of Corruption Act) in Raipur on Wednesday denied bail to suspended IAS Officer Ranu Sahu arrested previously in connection with the coal levy scam. The State Economic Offence Investigation and Anti Corruption Bureau (SEOIACB) had opposed her bail plea and the court took note of the fact that the suspended officer after being released on bail may influence the ongoing investigations. While dismissing her bail plea, Special Judge Nidhi Sharma Tiwari observed that the involvement of the officer is established prima facie in the coal levy scam and keeping in view the existing circumstances, she refused giving bail to the suspended officer.

 

It is worth mentioning that the SEOIACB as well as Enforcement Directorate (ED) have registered separate FIRs against Ranu Sahu and several others in coal levy scam. Recently, the Supreme Court gave relief to Sahu while granting her interim bail till August 7 in the FIR registered by the ED. However, due to the SEOIACB’s FIR, she is lodged in jail and she had on Tuesday moved an application in the lower court at Raipur requesting for bail. The prosecution and defense had concluded their submissions on Tuesday itself and the court had reserved the order on bail which was pronounced on Wednesday. SEOIAC’s counsel Dr Saurabh Pandey while opposing bail to the officer submitted before the court that the suspended officer was actively involved in collecting Rs 25 on every ton of coal from transporters while she was also part of the conspiracy.