Supreme Court Criticizes ED’s Case Conviction Rate In Chhattisgarh Coal Scam Hearing

During the hearing on the petition filed by suspended Chhattisgarh IAS officer Ranu Sahu, Supreme Court Justice Ujjwal Bhuiyan criticized the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) case handling. He noted that although the ED registers 5,000 cases, only 40 result in conviction. Justice Suryakant urged the ED to improve the quality of prosecution, emphasizing that serious allegations like these affect the country’s economy.

The court questioned the reliability of oral evidence presented and demanded scientific evidence to support the claims. In the previous hearing, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Chhattisgarh businessman Sunil Kumar Agarwal. The court observed that no crime had been registered against Agarwal under Section 384 of the IPC or any criminal activity involving illegal profit.

Ranu Sahu was arrested by the ED on July 22 of the previous year. The ED conducted raids on several businessmen, including Sahu and the treasurer of Congress in Chhattisgarh. The central agency is investigating the money laundering case along with alleged coal mining and liquor scams in the state. This investigation includes numerous politicians, their associates, and prominent officials, including IAS officers.

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