The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out search operations at the residences of Vinod Verma, the political advisor to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, and two Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) in Raipur and Durg districts, as reported by reliable sources.

The scope of these searches also extended to the premises of a businessman in Durg district, contributing to a multi-pronged operation. However, the specific case that prompted these investigative actions has yet to be disclosed.

Responding to the ED's actions, Chief Minister Baghel, who marked his 62nd birthday on the same day, employed sarcasm in a social media post. He thanked the Prime Minister and Amit Shah, the Home Minister, for their "priceless gift" of directing the ED towards his political advisor, OSDs, and close associates.

At the residence of Vinod Verma, the CM's political advisor, situated in Devendra Nagar's Officers Colony in Raipur, paramilitary personnel were observed, indicative of the significant nature of the operation. Similarly, the homes of OSDs Ashish Verma and Manish Banchhor in the old Bhilai area of Durg were also subjected to search activities.

Security personnel were stationed outside the residence of businessman Vijay Bhatia in Bhilai's Nehru Nagar area, underscoring the comprehensive nature of the search operation.

In a show of support for Ashish Verma and Banchhor, supporters gathered outside their residences, vociferously condemning the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government for purportedly exploiting central agencies to target political adversaries.

Manish Banchhor, an employee of the Bhilai Steel Plant under the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), serves as the Chief Minister's OSD while on deputation.

The ED's involvement in Chhattisgarh encompasses various investigations, including alleged coal and liquor scams, discrepancies in the District Mineral Foundation fund, and the scrutiny of an online betting application.

According to sources knowledgeable about the matter, recent days witnessed the ED conducting searches at several locations in Raipur and Durg, apparently linked to online betting activities,

Looking back to December of the previous year, the ED apprehended Saumya Chaurasia, a state cadre officer who held the position of deputy secretary in the Chief Minister's Office. This arrest formed part of the agency's probe into an alleged coal scam involving senior bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians, and middlemen.

The investigation centers on the alleged exaction of an "illegal levy of Rs 25" per tonne of coal transported within Chhattisgarh, orchestrated by a cartel.

Furthermore, the coal levy case led to the arrests of two IAS officers, Sameer Vishnoi and Ranu Sahu, among others, further underscoring the complexity and significance of the ongoing investigation.

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