RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Legislative assembly Leader of Opposition(LoP) Dr Charandas Mahant has written to Union Road Transport and Highways minister Nitin Gadkari, demanding a CBI inquiry into alleged irregularities in the Bharat Mala Project, which he claims caused a loss of over Rs 43 crore to the central government.
In his letter, Dr Mahant highlighted corruption in land acquisition and compensation processes during the construction of the Raipur-Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor, particularly in the Abhanpur sub-division of Raipur district. He alleged that public servants and landowners colluded to inflate compensation amounts fraudulently.
According to the investigation report cited by Mahant, the actual compensation due was Rs 7.65 crore, but Rs 49.39 crore was paidresulting in an excess of Rs 43.18 crore. The report, which Mahant attached to his letter, indicated fraudulent land mutations, backdated registrations, and illegal partitioning of land after the acquisition notification to artificially raise compensation amounts.
Dr Mahant raised the issue during the Chhattisgarh Assembly's budget session on 12 March 2025, where the Revenue Minister, in a written reply, acknowledged the findings of the report.
Mahant stated that he had urged both the Revenue Minister and Chief Minister to hand over the case to the CBI or form a legislative committee. However, his request was turned down, and instead, the government ordered an inquiry by the Commissioner. Later the same day, the state cabinet decided to transfer the case to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW).
He criticised this move, saying the EOW, being a state agency, lacks the jurisdiction to probe financial irregularities in a central project. He warned that any action by the EOW could be challenged in court, allowing the accused to escape accountability.
Dr Mahant also pointed out that the state government had received the investigation report in September 2023 but took no action until he raised it in the Assembly. He said the delay showed a lack of intent to pursue the case seriously.
He further stated that over 100 officials and landowners were involved, and called for recovery of the excess Rs 43.18 crore paid, along with interest. He also expressed concern that the report failed to cover the larger criminal conspiracy angle.
Calling the issue widespread, Mahant alleged that similar irregularities occurred in other land acquisitions under the Bharat Mala Project across the state, and urged a thorough central investigation into all such cases.
In his letter, Dr Mahant highlighted corruption in land acquisition and compensation processes during the construction of the Raipur-Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor, particularly in the Abhanpur sub-division of Raipur district. He alleged that public servants and landowners colluded to inflate compensation amounts fraudulently.
According to the investigation report cited by Mahant, the actual compensation due was Rs 7.65 crore, but Rs 49.39 crore was paidresulting in an excess of Rs 43.18 crore. The report, which Mahant attached to his letter, indicated fraudulent land mutations, backdated registrations, and illegal partitioning of land after the acquisition notification to artificially raise compensation amounts.
Dr Mahant raised the issue during the Chhattisgarh Assembly's budget session on 12 March 2025, where the Revenue Minister, in a written reply, acknowledged the findings of the report.
Mahant stated that he had urged both the Revenue Minister and Chief Minister to hand over the case to the CBI or form a legislative committee. However, his request was turned down, and instead, the government ordered an inquiry by the Commissioner. Later the same day, the state cabinet decided to transfer the case to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW).
He criticised this move, saying the EOW, being a state agency, lacks the jurisdiction to probe financial irregularities in a central project. He warned that any action by the EOW could be challenged in court, allowing the accused to escape accountability.
Dr Mahant also pointed out that the state government had received the investigation report in September 2023 but took no action until he raised it in the Assembly. He said the delay showed a lack of intent to pursue the case seriously.
He further stated that over 100 officials and landowners were involved, and called for recovery of the excess Rs 43.18 crore paid, along with interest. He also expressed concern that the report failed to cover the larger criminal conspiracy angle.
Calling the issue widespread, Mahant alleged that similar irregularities occurred in other land acquisitions under the Bharat Mala Project across the state, and urged a thorough central investigation into all such cases.
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