‘Largest disproportionate assets case’: Chhattisgarh bureaucrat amassed 19 times her earnings, claims ACB

The Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing/Anti-corruption Bureau (EOW/ACB) formally charged Soumya Chaurasia, a former Deputy Secretary to the then Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in a disproportionate assets case, of amassing assets and investments which were nearly 19 times her known source of income..

This is the largest [highest face value] case of disproportionate assets in the history of the Bureau, according to officials.

Pegging the amount around ₹50 crore, the agency stated in a press release that in her 17-year career, the State Administrative Service officer – who is an accused in several alleged scams including the coal levy and district mineral fund scams – made maximum investment of illegal money in properties between 2019 and 2022.

“According to the chargesheet, Ms. Chaurasia has been found to have made benami investments in approximately 45 immovable properties in the names of her family and other individuals. The Bureau’s investigation has confirmed that the civil servant made illegal earnings of approximately ₹49,69,48,298 while in office.

The 8,000-page chargesheet filed in the Special Court (Corruption Investigation), Raipur added that during her time in service, the legitimate income of Ms. Chaurasia and her family was found to be approximately ₹2,51,89,175, while she was found to have invested illegal income of approximately ₹50 crore in various properties.

“Thus, Ms. Chaurasia has earned 1872.86 per cent more illegal income during her entire service period,” said an agency spokesperson.

The 2008-batch officer was first posted as Deputy Collector of Bilaspur district. Prior to this, she served as an Accounts Officer in 2005. In 2019, she was appointed Deputy Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office.

Ms. Chaurasia, who is currently on bail, faces charges under Sections 13(1)(b), 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), according to the EOW/ACB.