On January 12, 2026, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) stated that part of ₹540 crore earned from an alleged illegal coal levy scam in Chhattisgarh was used to bribe politicians and fund election expenses. The scam dates back to the previous Congress government. The ED attached assets worth ₹2.66 crore, including eight properties linked to Soumya Chaurasia, a suspended state administrative officer, and another person. These properties were bought in their relatives' names using proceeds from the illegal coal levy and extortion. The ED said, “The extorted cash was used to bribe government officials and politicians, fund election-related expenses, and acquire movable and immovable assets.” The scam involved a racket charging ₹25 per tonne from coal transporters between July 2020 and June 2022. The Congress party denied the charges, calling them a political conspiracy. Soumya Chaurasia, known as a powerful bureaucrat during former CM Bhupesh Baghel’s tenure, and ten others were arrested by the ED. Chaurasia later secured bail from the Supreme Court. So far, five charge sheets have been filed, naming 35 individuals and companies. The investigation began from a 2022 Bengaluru Police FIR, an Income-Tax Department charge sheet in 2023, and a 2024 complaint by Chhattisgarh’s Economic Offences Wing/Anti-Corruption Bureau.