The ED’s Raipur zonal office struck hard against a land acquisition racket Tuesday, raiding eight sites in Chhattisgarh’s Abhanpur, Raipur, Dhamtari, and Kurud areas. This stems from alleged fraud in compensating landowners for the Bharatmala highway linking Raipur to Visakhapatnam.
Search operations yielded Rs 66.9 lakh cash, over 37 kg silver, electronic gadgets, and key documents exposing financial misconduct. Investigators believe these assets trace back to illicit gains from forged records.
The case originated from an ACB FIR naming ex-SDO Nirbhay Sahu and associates for corruption and cheating. Post-NHAI notification, land ownership was slyly transferred, and plots sliced into smaller units to inflate claims under the Highways Act.
Tampered khasra records led to wrongful payouts far exceeding actual values, labeling the surplus as crime proceeds. This scam not only drained government coffers but enriched conspirators unfairly.
ED vows to unravel the full syndicate, probing links with public servants. The raids signal intensified scrutiny on mega infrastructure scams, promising accountability.
With digital trails and seized evidence, the agency aims to dismantle the operation. This development raises questions on oversight in highway land deals, urging reforms for transparency.
