In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched simultaneous search operations at multiple locations across Chhattisgarh on Monday morning. The raids are part of an ongoing money laundering investigation into alleged massive irregularities in compensation payments for land acquired for the prestigious Raipur–Visakhapatnam economic corridor.
Scope of the Searches and Key Figures
Officials confirmed that the federal agency is searching nine premises in the districts of Raipur and Mahasamund. The operation targets properties linked to several key individuals under the scanner. These include prominent land broker Harmit Singh Khanuja, his alleged associates, a number of government officials, and several landowners who received compensation for the project.
The core of the allegation is a large-scale manipulation in the process of valuation and disbursal of compensation for land acquired for national highway projects. The ED suspects that the established procedure was subverted to siphon off crores of rupees.
The Genesis: A ₹32 Crore Fraud and Political Claims
This investigation by the ED originates from a case initially probed by the state’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The EOW had earlier claimed that at least ₹32 crore was illegally diverted through a well-orchestrated scheme. The modus operandi allegedly involved inflating compensation amounts, creating and using forged documents, and collusion between private facilitators and government officials.
However, the scale of the alleged scam is a matter of political debate. While the EOW probe pointed to ₹32 crore, the Opposition Congress has leveled much bigger allegations. The Congress claims the irregularities could amount to ₹350 crore or even more, accusing the ruling BJP of overseeing a massive scam in centrally-funded projects.
The Project and the Pattern of Complaints
The Raipur–Visakhapatnam economic corridor is a crucial part of the Centre’s flagship Bharatmala Pariyojana. This ambitious project aims to construct over 26,000 km of economic corridors across India to streamline freight movement. Despite its national importance, the land acquisition process for the Raipur stretch has been mired in controversy.
For a long time, landowners, activists, and political groups have filed numerous complaints. The common grievances include deliberate undervaluation of land, creation of forged land records, and selective payouts to favored individuals, creating a contentious atmosphere around the project.
The ED stated that Monday’s searches are strategically focused on uncovering the money trail and identifying all beneficiaries of the alleged fraud. Agency officials are collecting crucial documentary and digital evidence related to the approval and disbursal of compensation. Details of any seizures or recoveries made during the operation will be disclosed once the raids conclude.
Political Repercussions and Ongoing Probe
These raids have intensified the political temperature in Chhattisgarh. Both the BJP-led state government and the Congress party have been trading serious corruption allegations related to land acquisition and the implementation of centrally funded infrastructure projects. The ED's action is likely to fuel this ongoing political confrontation.
The investigation remains active, with the agency piecing together evidence to establish the full extent of the financial fraud and the network involved in the alleged scam surrounding one of India's key highway projects.
