In a major breakthrough, the Jharkhand Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested 17 individuals, including former government officials, in connection with a massive land acquisition scam related to the Dhanbad ring road project. The arrests come after nearly a decade of investigations into alleged corruption that siphoned off compensation meant for landowners.
Decade-Long Investigation Culminates in Coordinated Raids
The ACB launched a coordinated overnight operation, deploying ten separate teams across five districts of Jharkhand. The raids, conducted under tight security with a large police presence, targeted locations in Dhanbad, Ranchi, Dumka, Giridih, and Deoghar. This operation marks a significant development in a case that has been under the scanner since 2016.
The case was originally registered based on a complaint filed by social activist Ramesh Rahi. Notably, Rahi had first raised the alarm about the irregularities as early as 2013, though the formal First Information Report (FIR) was lodged three years later against 34 accused persons.
Key Accused and Alleged Modus Operandi
Among those arrested are several former officials who held key positions during the land acquisition process. The list includes:
- Uday Kant Pathak, former and dismissed District Land Acquisition Officer (DLO) of Dhanbad.
- Vishal Kumar, former Circle Officer of Dhanbad.
- Mithlesh Kumar, former Kanungo Land Acquisition Officer of Dhanbad.
- Former Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society (PACS) chairman Ram Kripal Goswami and manager Kali Prasad Singh.
- Middleman Bappi Rai and several other officials from the land acquisition and revenue departments.
The accused are alleged to have formed a well-orchestrated nexus to divert compensation funds. By manipulating land records and beneficiary details, they reportedly misappropriated colossal sums estimated to be between Rs 100 crore and Rs 150 crore. This makes it one of the largest land-related corruption cases in the state's history.
Activist's Response and Future Steps
Welcoming the ACB's decisive action, activist Ramesh Rahi expressed his gratitude to the investigating agency. He further urged the state government to take stringent follow-up measures, including the confiscation of properties belonging to all individuals involved in the scam. The arrests are seen as a critical step towards delivering justice in a case that has highlighted deep-rooted corruption in government land acquisition processes.
The ACB's successful operation underscores its commitment to pursuing long-pending corruption cases, sending a strong message against graft in Jharkhand. The investigation into the remaining accused is expected to continue.
