SDM suspended over 'misappropriation' of Rs 43 crore land compensation in Chhattisgarh

The Chhattisgarh government has suspended Nirbhay Kumar Sahu, the former Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Abhanpur in Raipur district, over his alleged involvement in a Rs 43.18 crore compensation fraud related to land acquisitions for the Bharatmala highway project. This is part of a larger investigation into irregularities that surfaced in the compensation distribution for landowners involved in the Raipur-Visakhapatnam corridor of the project.

Sahu, who currently holds the position of Jagdalpur Municipal Commissioner, is accused of wrongfully disbursing compensation to landowners during his tenure as SDM. The allegations suggest that funds meant for farmers and landowners were distributed inappropriately, leading to a significant financial loss to the state. The investigation revealed that compensation payments did not follow the required guidelines, resulting in misuse of public funds.

The fraud was brought to light after a complaint by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, which led to an inquiry by the state government. Officials confirmed that the irregularities took place during the tenure of the previous Congress government. According to government sources, five officials have been implicated in the case so far, with allegations of negligence and misconduct during the handling of the compensation process.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has made it clear that the state will not tolerate corruption at any level. In a statement, he emphasized that anyone found guilty of these irregularities would face the strictest legal consequences. He also assured the public that the government is committed to taking stringent action to protect taxpayers' money from misappropriation. As a result of the ongoing investigation, more officials may face disciplinary action, as authorities continue to probe the extent of the alleged fraud.

The government has signaled that any further involvement of public servants in this matter will be dealt with firmly. Despite attempts to contact Nirbhay Kumar Sahu for a statement, he has not responded to calls or text messages. The inquiry is still underway, and investigators are expected to uncover further details in the coming weeks.