Sahu is accused of playing a key role in the multi-crore coal levy scam unearthed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau and Economic Offences Wing (ACB-EOW) in Chhattisgarh. According to the prosecution, he was not merely a driver but a trusted aide and the principal cash handler of the coal syndicate allegedly operated by Tiwari. Investigators claim Sahu collected nearly ₹13 crore in illegal cash generated through unauthorised levies on coal transporters and, on Tiwari’s instructions, delivered around ₹7.5 crore to influential officials and political figures.

The High Court noted that Sahu has been absconding for nearly two years and is evading arrest despite a standing warrant issued against him. The state opposed his bail plea, stating that he had failed to cooperate with the investigation and that documentary evidence, including entries recovered from Income Tax Department diaries, corroborated his involvement in handling and transferring illicit funds.

Defence counsel argued that Sahu’s name does not appear in the original FIR and that he acted only under the directions of his employer. It was also contended that several co-accused had already been granted bail. However, the court rejected these arguments, ruling that the principle of parity does not apply in cases where the accused has been absconding and where evidence suggests a distinct and active role in the offence.

The coal scam pertains to illegal collection of ₹25 per tonne from coal transporters operating in Raigarh, Korba and Surajpur districts. Enforcement Directorate investigations revealed that between July 2020 and June 2022, the syndicate allegedly amassed nearly ₹540 crore through unlawful levies in exchange for facilitating permits and smooth transportation.

The case has led to the registration of FIRs against 36 individuals, including two former ministers, legislators, senior IAS officers and businesspersons. Tiwari, identified by investigators as the mastermind behind the operation, is currently in judicial custody. Several senior bureaucrats, including IAS officers Ranu Sahu and Sameer Vishnoi, have also been arrested in connection with the case.

With the High Court’s refusal to grant relief, agencies are expected to intensify efforts to trace and arrest Narayan Sahu, whose custodial interrogation is considered crucial to unraveling the money trail and identifying beneficiaries of the alleged scam.