Raipur: The case regarding the huge payroll fraud under the Bharatmala scheme in Chhattisgarh is heating up as well, with over 400 new claims and objections being discovered in the Raipur and Durg divisions. The investigation looks at anomalies in the disbursement of compensation in the land acquisition process, and it is alleged that senior government officials were involved in giving exaggerated compensation, thus causing a huge loss of over 600 crores to the exchequer.
It is in these claims that four independent investigative teams, which are headed by an Additional Collector, are engaged. According to the official sources, the teams have been demanding important documents and reports of concerned patwaris (revenue officers) associated with compensation disbursal. Secondly, mails are also being dispatched to complainants and interested parties and requested to report and give written statements.
In the Raipur division, over 150 objections are registered to date, along with over 250 objections in Durg, and the number will increase as the investigations continue. The officials are also targeting to table a thorough report to the state government by the time the Assembly meets during the Monsoon session.
The fraud has been associated with the Visakhapatnam-Raipur Economic Corridor under Bharatmala Pariyojana, in which senior officials like Limburu SDM Nirbhay Kumar Sahu and other revenue employees are allegedly facilitating the compensation claim many times by the mafia of land. The irregularities were first reported earlier this year, after which, in March, Sahu (who was at that time posted as the Commissioner of Jagdalpur Municipal Corporation) was suspended together with a few tehsildars and patwaris.
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) is investigating the case, and it has provided evidence against the accused. An arrest order had been issued by a court, but all the accused persons are absconding. Law enforcers are still trying to track them down and arrest them as the investigation aims to establish the real scope of the monetary losses and allow justice to prevail.
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