The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the bail plea of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s deputy secretary Saumya Chaurasia, an accused in an alleged coal levy scam money laundering case.
Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma also imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on her for misrepresenting facts by making incorrect statements.
“It cannot be gainsaid that parties approaching court seeking justice are expected to make full and correct disclosure of all material facts and every advocate being an officer of court though appearing for a party is expected to assist the court fairly,” the bench said.
“On merits also we have not found anything. Since incorrect facts were stated, we have dismissed the appeal with costs of Rs 1 lakh,” the bench said. The court was hearing an appeal filed by Chaurasia against an order of the Chhattisgarh High Court which rejected her bail plea.
A federal probe agency last year alleged that a “grand conspiracy” was hatched to perpetrate a coal levy scam in which Rs 540 crore was extorted over the last two years.
The case stems from an Income Tax department complaint.
