[NAN Scam] High Court judge was in touch with Constitutional functionaries who were helping accused: ED to Supreme Court

The accused persons in the Nagrik Apurti Nigam scam (NAN scam) were in touch with a Chhattisgarh High Court judge through Constitutional functionaries who were helping the accused, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) told the Supreme Court on Monday. (ED vs Anil Tuteja and ors).Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for ED, said its probe revealed that accused was in touch with a Constitutional functionary. "ED probe reveals that the accused was in touch with the Constitutional functionary. There was an attempt to reduce the gravity of scheduled offences of other co-accused. Accused also influenced the witness to withdraw statements made before the ED," Mehta submitted.He further said that WhatsApp chats revealed connivance between accused IAS officers and those holding Constitutional posts. "These highly placed officers in connivance with authorities in constitutional posts took advantage. I have not mentioned names. But I have WhatsApp chats. We have not revealed names so that faith of people is not shaken upon system," Mehta said."Let Chhattisgarh file it in sealed cover the documents and let there also be reports on how the scam was during BJP regime," said Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal represented the Chhattisgarh government."Should we disclose that the person in touch with the constitutional functionary conniving with the accused is a High Court judge," Mehta asked."So what? Judge is not above the law. What is there not to disclose," said Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for one of the accused officers.Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the intervenor, while agreeing with the submission of the ED for transfer of trial, said that the probe should be monitored by the Supreme Court. "CBI, ED are amenable to political influences and it must monitored by this very court so there is an independent probe," he said..The bench headed by Chief Justice of India UU Lalit eventually directed Chhattisgarh and other parties to file reports/ material in sealed cover and posted the case for further consideration on September 26 at 3 pm. .The multi-crore Public Distribution System scam from Chhattisgarh known as NAN scam came to light in 2015 when Economic Offences Investigation (EOI) and Anti-corruption Bureau, Raipur, Chhattisgarh conducted raids on February 12, 2015 in different district offices and residents of the officers of Chhattisgarh State Civil Supplies Corporation and Chhattisgarh State Warehousing Corporation including its headquarters at Raipur and had registered a case against the officers of the corporation.Those involved have been accused of supplying low quality rice, grams, salt etc.The Enforcement Directorate had registered a money laundering case in connection with the scam against two IAS officers.It then moved the present plea seeking transfer of trial from Chhattisgarh alleging that a senior functionary of the government has been trying to weaken the predicate offence against the accused. .[Read order]