Bharatmala project case: ED carries out raids in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur & Mahasamund | Raipur News
RAIPUR: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday morning carried out searches at multiple locations in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur and Mahasamund districts, as part of its probe into alleged irregularities in land acquisition payments for the Raipur–Visakhapatnam economic corridor under the Bharatmala project. Raids were being conducted at nine premises across Raipur and Mahasamund, officials said.The operation covers properties linked to land broker Harmit Singh Khanuja, his alleged associates, several government officials and a number of landowners who received compensation for the project. The ED suspects large-scale manipulation in valuation and disbursal of compensation — a process that determines payouts for land acquired for national highway projects.The investigation stems from findings shared by the state’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW), which earlier claimed that at least ₹32 crore was siphoned off through inflated compensation, forged documents and alleged collusion between private facilitators and government officials. The Opposition Congress, however, alleges a far bigger scam — pegging the irregularities at ₹350 crore and above.The Raipur–Visakhapatnam corridor is part of the Centre’s flagship Bharatmala Pariyojana, which aims to build over 26,000 km of economic corridors to ease freight movement across the country. Land acquisition for the Raipur stretch has been contentious, with multiple complaints filed by landowners, activists and political groups about undervaluation, forged records and selective payouts.ED officials said Monday’s searches focus on uncovering the money trail, identifying beneficiaries of the alleged fraud and collecting documentary and digital evidence related to compensation approvals. Details of seizures and recoveries are expected once the operation concludes.The raids have added fresh political heat in the state, where both the BJP-led government and the Congress have traded charges over corruption linked to land acquisition and centrally funded infrastructure projects.
