2022 report of IAS officer held for collecting illegal levy of Rs 2-3 crore daily is viral, sparks discussion

The accused was part of a scam in which an illegal levy of Rs 25 per tonne was being allegedly extorted in Chhattisgarh. (Representational image)

A two-year-old news story about the arrest of an IAS officer in Chattisgarh along with two others for their involvement in an illegal levy on coal transportation generating Rs 2-3 crore per day has recently gone viral, sparking a discussion on corrupt government officials.

The report published by Indian Express stated that as per the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the accused were part of a scam in which an illegal levy of Rs 25 per tonne was being allegedly extorted. The proceeds of the crime, the ED has alleged, were being used for “investing in benami assets, bribing officials to influence senior officers and also used by or on behalf of political executives of the state”.

The agency stated that the IAS officer and his wife were found to be in possession of Rs 47 lakh of unaccounted cash and 4kg of gold jewellery.

Babus are making 2-3 crore daily while you calculate 20K SIP returns on Excel sheets. pic.twitter.com/FO0WyqLjAe
Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) October 16, 2024

Reacting to the news, X user Murali S (@MrMuraliS) said, "Rs 2-3 crore daily, holy sh**. I've been really doing that Rs 20K SIP calculation everyday on Excel sheets. I feel useless now."

"That is Rs 1,000 crore a year," commented Sagarcasm on LinkedIn. "UPSC is the only institution to create individual unicorns."

X user Vaibhav Agarwal(@cavaibhav96) wrote, "Truth is there is no accountability of government servants. Also why babus and officers sitting on the top would amend laws against them? This is the whole system from top to bottom. Enjoying their legacy."

"I am preparing for civil services and I get disappointed seeing such news," commented Rushdin Caliphate (@Gambeeeeee).