IAS Officer Ranu Sahu Arrested in Chhattisgarh’s District Mineral Fund Scam
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested IAS officer Ranu Sahu in connection with the District Mineral Fund (DMF) scam in Chhattisgarh. This arrest follows the detention of another government officer, Maya Varier, in the same case. Both officers are in ED custody until October 22, as ordered by a special court.
Background of the Case
The investigation began after three First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed by the Chhattisgarh Police. These reports accused DMF contractors of misusing funds in collaboration with state officials and political figures. The DMF is a trust funded by miners to aid those affected by mining activities in Chhattisgarh.
Roles of the Accused
Ranu Sahu served as the district collector of Korba from May 2021 to June 2022, while Maya Varier was the Assistant Commissioner of the Tribal Development Department in Korba from August 2021 to March 2023. During their tenure, an illegal system of collecting commissions from vendors and contractors was allegedly in place.
Details of the Scam
The ED’s investigation revealed that contractors paid significant commissions, ranging from 25% to 40% of the contract value, to officials. The funds for these kickbacks were generated through accommodation entries. Although the exact ‘Proceeds of Crime’ are not quantified in the FIRs, the DMF Fund for Korba alone exceeded Rs 1,000 crore, with commissions amounting to hundreds of crores.
Search Operations and Seizures
Earlier, the ED conducted searches in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, targeting government officers, vendors, and contractors linked to the DMF scam. These operations led to the seizure of documents, digital evidence, cash, bank balances, and jewelry worth Rs 2.32 crore.
Doubts Revealed
IAS Officer -: An IAS Officer is a person who works for the Indian government and helps in making important decisions for the country. IAS stands for Indian Administrative Service.
Ranu Sahu -: Ranu Sahu is a person who works as an IAS officer. She was arrested because she was involved in a scam.
Chhattisgarh -: Chhattisgarh is a state in central India. It is known for its rich mineral resources.
District Mineral Fund (DMF) -: The District Mineral Fund is money collected from mining companies to help people and areas affected by mining activities. It is supposed to be used for the welfare of these communities.
Enforcement Directorate (ED) -: The Enforcement Directorate is a government agency in India that investigates financial crimes like money laundering and fraud.
Scam -: A scam is a dishonest plan or activity to cheat people and take their money. In this case, it involved misuse of funds meant for helping people.
Illegal commissions -: Illegal commissions are extra money paid secretly to someone in return for a favor, which is against the law. In this case, contractors paid extra money to officials to get contracts.
Korba -: Korba is a district in Chhattisgarh, India. It is known for its coal mines and power plants.
Assets -: Assets are valuable things that a person or organization owns, like money, property, or goods. In this case, assets worth Rs 2.32 crore were seized.
