New Delhi [India]: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has re-registered a case against three former top officials of the Chhattisgarh government, accusing them of attempting to interfere with ongoing investigations in the Nagrik Apurti Nigam (NAN) scam and related Enforcement Directorate (ED) proceedings.
The individuals named in the case include the then Principal Secretary, the then Joint Secretary, and the former Advocate General of the state. They are alleged to have conspired to manipulate the course of justice in investigations concerning large-scale irregularities in the procurement and distribution of food grains and essential commodities under the NAN scheme.
The accused are identified as Anil Tuteja (IAS, retired) – then Joint Secretary; Dr. Alok Shukla (IAS, retired) – then Principal Secretary; and Satish Chandra Verma – the then Advocate General of Chhattisgarh.
According to an official statement from the CBI:
“The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case taking over investigation of FIR No.49/2024 earlier registered at PS State Economic Offences Investigation Bureau, Raipur (Chhattisgarh), against Anil Tuteja, IAS (retired), then Joint Secretary; Dr. Alok Shukla, IAS (retired), then Principal Secretary; Satish Chandra Verma, then Advocate General, all three of government officials of Chhattisgarh, pursuant to notification issued by Govt of India, after notification of the Govt. of Chhattisgarh.”
CBI teams conducted searches at multiple locations associated with the accused, including two sites in Raipur, and reportedly recovered incriminating documents.
“CBI conducted searches at the premises of the accused and two public servants at two places in Raipur, which recovered some incriminating documents. It is alleged that the accused, then public servants, abused their official position to influence ongoing proceedings in the Nagrik Apurti Nigam (NAN) case registered vide FIR No.9/2015 against them at EOW/ACB, Raipur and the Enforcement Directorate case registered on the basis of the NAN case,” the agency stated.
Digital evidence reportedly seized by the Income Tax Department further suggests that the accused tried to obstruct the progress of investigations.
“As per digital evidence seized by the Income Tax Department, the accused, then public servants, made several attempts to frustrate the proceedings in NAN cases. Further, the accused, then public servants, allegedly provided inappropriate benefits to the accused Shri Satish Chandra Verma, then Advocate General, Chhattisgarh, to motivate him to perform public duty in an improper manner and secure anticipatory bail for themselves in the aforesaid cases under investigation by ED and EOW/ACB, Chhattisgarh.”
The CBI also stated that procedural and departmental documents related to senior officers in the State Economic Offences Investigation Bureau were allegedly altered to support anticipatory bail applications.
“In order to seek anticipatory bail, it was alleged, the accused then public servants, got changed the documents related to the procedural and departmental work of the senior officers posted in the State Economic Offences Investigation Bureau, and the reply to be filed in the High Court, in NAN case,” the statement added.
The case continues to unfold as authorities probe deeper into the alleged misuse of official positions by the former state functionaries.