Leader of Opposition in Chhattisgarh, Charan Das Mahant, demanded a CBI probe, claiming that the misappropriation of funds disbursed to farmers as compensation for giving up their land for a Bharatmala road project. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Claiming that the misappropriation of funds disbursed to farmers as compensation for giving up their land for a Bharatmala road project in Chhattisgarh was to the tune of ₹350 crore, Leader of Opposition in the State, Charan Das Mahant, demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter in the Assembly on Wednesday (March 12, 2025).
The Opposition also demanded that the officials should face criminal charges and Congress MLA staged a walkout when the government refused a CBI probe or an inquiry by a committee of MLAs.
So far, the State government has suspended a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) and other officials for negligence leading to alleged misappropriation of ₹43.18 crores in land acquisition for the Raipur-Vishakhapatnam economic corridor. The highway is a part of the Bharatmala project implemented by the Central government.
Raising the issue at the beginning of the Question Hour, Mr. Mahant said that he had raised a question on compensation in four villages in which it was found that the Centre suffered a loss of nearly forty three crore and 19 lakh and that he was delighted that the Revenue Minister [Tank Ram Verma] had admitted to the same.
“Sir, I want… this is the money of the Centre, there could be some share of the State as well. If we are to calculate then the total roads to be constructed under the Bharatmala in that … I had only asked about four villages in my question [to the government in the Assembly]. If we are to look at other [roads], then over ₹350 crore additional payment has been made which has been admitted by the Revenue Minister,” the LoP said.
He said that it was a major question related to the Centre, officials were involved and that he would not hesitate in saying there was a possibility of the involvement of political leaders from the major parties and requested the Minister and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai for a CBI probe through Assembly Speaker Raman Singh.
Replying to the same, the Minister admitted that there were several irregularities in the Bharatmala project and said that deputy collectors, upper collectors, tehsildars and patwaris had been suspended, and that probe was on. At this, Mr. Mahant demanded that at least the names that had come, there should be an FIR against the persons concerned even as he reiterated his demand for a CBI probe.
Mr. Verma said that all complaints irrespective of their nature will be probed thoroughly and in depth by a divisional commissioner. Both the Treasury and Opposition benches stuck to their positions. Mr. Mahant then suggested that let a committee of MLAs probe the matter but Mr. Verma said that a divisional commissioner was enough. The LoP said that the Speaker himself could take a decision on the Committee of MLAs. He was joined by former Minister and Congress MLA Umesh Patel who said that the government was not conducting a comprehensive probe and merely acting on complaints and hence the CBI probe was needed.
What followed was a heated exchange between the MLAs on both sides over the Congress’ flip-flops over CBI and other central agencies. Speaker Raman Singh then said that the government had made it clear that the probe would be conducted not by the CBI or a group of MLAs but the divisional Commissioner.
Minister Verma said that the probe by the commissioner would be minute and comprehensive. Mr. Mahant said that he was not satisfied with the government’s reply and wanted the Speaker to intervene. Mr. Singh said that a probe committee of MLAs could only be formed with the consent of the government. Mr. Mahant said that the House was the temple of democracy and if the Speaker disappointed them, he would go to the High Court even as he led a group of MLAs in walking out as a protest.
Published – March 12, 2025 07:01 pm IST
