Chhattisgarh Revenue Officials Arrested for Alleged Fraud in Bharatmala Project Compensation

Two revenue officials in Chhattisgarh were arrested for their involvement in a land compensation scam related to the Bharatmala project, resulting in a loss of Rs 32 crore to the state. They allegedly misused their positions to inflate compensation amounts unlawfully.

Two officials from the revenue department were arrested on Wednesday for their alleged involvement in irregularities related to land compensation for a Bharatmala road project in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offences Wing (ACB/EOW) had initiated a case last year concerning fraud in land demarcation, mutation, and ownership transfer during the 2021-22 land acquisition for the Raipur-Visakhapatnam economic corridor.

The investigation revealed that Shashikant Kurre, then tehsildar of Abhanpur, and Lakheshwar Prasad Kiran, then naib tehsildar of Gobra-Nawapara, allegedly exploited their positions. They reportedly conspired with patwaris, revenue inspectors, and brokers to manipulate revenue records. This led to beneficiaries receiving compensation far exceeding their rightful amounts, resulting in significant financial losses for the state.

Fraudulent Activities Uncovered

The ACB/EOW's investigation found that land parcels were demarcated through a collusion between revenue officials and brokers. In Nayakbandha, Tokro, and Urla villages, land was mutated using fake documents with backdated entries. Inflated compensation claims were made based on these forged records, causing an estimated Rs 28 crore loss to the government.

In October last year, the ACB/EOW filed its first chargesheet in the alleged Bharatmala project land compensation scam. It named 10 accused individuals, including two public servants who were previously arrested. The chargesheet detailed how compensation was fraudulently claimed and disbursed using fake records.

Legal Proceedings and Arrests

Kurre and Kiran had previously sought bail from the Supreme Court, but their petitions were denied. A Special Court in Raipur issued permanent arrest warrants against them and other absconding accused. Following their arrest, they were presented before the Special Court, which granted custodial remand to the ACB/EOW for further investigation.

Additionally, over Rs 2 crore was allegedly lost when compensation was paid again for land in Nayankbandha village that had already been acquired for a water reservoir. Another instance involved more than Rs 2 crore claimed under Uma Tiwari's name using forged documents for land owned by others.

Financial Impact on Government

The alleged scam resulted in a total loss of approximately Rs 32 crore to the exchequer. The fraudulent activities included inflated compensation claims and repeated payments for previously acquired land. These actions significantly impacted government finances.

The investigation is ongoing as authorities continue to uncover more details about the extent of the fraud. Officials are working to hold all responsible parties accountable and recover any misappropriated funds.

With inputs from PTI