Latest news with #Mahant
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
LOP Dr Charandas Mahant urges Chhattisgarh CM, speaker to install BR Ambedkar's statue at new Assembly complex in Nava Raipur
RAIPUR: With the Chhattisgarh govt advancing its plan to relocate the Vidhan Sabha to a new, state-of-the-art complex in Nava Raipur, Leader of Opposition Dr Charandas Mahant has written to chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Assembly Speaker Dr Raman Singh, urging the installation of a statue of Bharat Ratna Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar at the new Assembly complex. Dr Mahant stated that the architect of the Constitution, Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, shaped the Constitution with clarity, foresight, and a spirit of social justice. He added that this serves as an ideal for any democratic nation and it is everyone's duty to follow it. Dr Mahant mentioned that during his tenure as Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker, he announced the installation of Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar's statue in the proposed new Assembly complex. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his in-principle consent to attend the inauguration ceremony of the newly constructed Chhattisgarh Assembly in November 2025. Dr Mahant believes this would be an opportune time to unveil the statue of Baba Saheb Ambedkar, which would be a great honour for the Scheduled Caste community in Chhattisgarh and India. This would also serve the broader public interest in remembering the great leader's contributions. The new Assembly complex, situated in Sector-19 of Nava Raipur, spans approximately 51 acres. It is designed to include the main Assembly building, MLA rest houses, residential quarters for officers and employees, and an auditorium with a seating capacity of 500. The complex will be powered by solar energy, incorporate rainwater harvesting systems, and feature extensive plantations of native tree species such as Mahua, Kusum, Sal, and Sagon. The new Assembly complex is expected to be fully operational by September 2025. The relocation of the Vidhan Sabha marks a pivotal step in the development of Nava Raipur in Chhattisgarh's new capital. The city is envisioned as a modern, smart, and sustainable urban centre, integrating administrative functions with cultural heritage. The new Assembly complex is set to become a symbol of democratic values and the state's commitment to sustainable development.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Four get life sentence for Barabanki priest murder
Lucknow: A local court in Barabanki on Friday sentenced four men to life imprisonment in connection with the 2002 murder of a temple priest in a decades-old land dispute. The verdict was delivered by Additional District Judge Amit Singh in the sensational case involving the murder of Mahant Ramkaran Das of Ram Janki Temple in Masoodpur. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The court found all four accused — Muneshwar Prasad Verma, Ramkripal, Kamlesh, and Ramapati, all residents of Masoodpur — guilty of the murder and sentenced them to life imprisonment. Each convict was also fined Rs 23,000. The incident dates back to the night of Aug 12, 2002, when the accused allegedly barged into the Mahant's residence and shot him in the chest over a land ownership dispute. The Mahant succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The temple reportedly owned eight bighas of land, which was under cultivation on lease by accused Ramapati and Muneshwar Verma. A legal dispute over ownership of the land was ongoing at the time of the murder. According to special public prosecutor Ramesh Chandra Verma and assistant district govt counsel Sunil Kumar Dubey, the case was registered based on a complaint filed by the deceased Mahant's son, Hukum Singh. The prosecution argued that the land dispute led to deep-seated resentment, culminating in the fatal attack.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Congress demands SIT probe into Jhiram Ghati attack, slams BJP for obstructing justice
RAIPUR: On the 12th anniversary of the Jhiram Ghati massacre, senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel reiterated his demand for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the deadly 2013 Naxal attack. The attack claimed the lives of several top Congress leaders. Speaking at a tribute event at Rajiv Bhawan, Baghel accused successive BJP governments of consistently obstructing justice and shielding the real conspirators behind the ambush. Baghel, along with Leader of Opposition Dr Charandas Mahant and other Congress leaders, laid wreaths and observed a two-minute silence to honour the martyrs. Baghel recalled that during the Congress's tenure, an SIT was formed to investigate the larger conspiracy behind the attack. However, he alleged that the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which had earlier closed its investigation in 2015 without recording statements of key victims or naming any suspects, reopened its case soon after the SIT was formed, effectively stalling the state probe. "The NIA repeatedly refused to hand over the case file to the state despite multiple requests. Even when the High Court dismissed the stay obtained by the NIA, the agency went to the Supreme Court, which too rejected their plea on November 21, 2023. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Now that the legal roadblocks are gone, what is stopping the state government from moving forward with the SIT probe?" Baghel questioned. He urged the current BJP-led state government to immediately initiate the SIT investigation based on the complaints lodged by victim families at Darbha police station, asserting that justice delayed is justice denied. "Twelve years have passed, and yet the victims' families continue to wait for answers. Who is being protected? Why were the injured never questioned? The secrecy around the investigation points to a deeper conspiracy," he alleged. Baghel also questioned the central government's double standards, pointing out how central agencies like the ED, CBI, and Income Tax Department have actively pursued alleged financial scams in the state, while the Centre fought legal battles to prevent a state-led probe into a major terror incident. Leader of Opposition Dr Mahant echoed Baghel's sentiments, calling the Jhiram attack an unhealed wound for the Congress. He questioned the withdrawal of security for the Congress's 'Parivartan Yatra' in a known Naxal stronghold and said the incident remains a blot on Indian democracy. 'For the BJP, Jhiram might be a forgotten chapter or a deliberate conspiracy, but for the Congress, it's a dark day etched in our memory. We will continue to fight for justice,' Mahant said. Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee President Deepak Baij visited the martyrs' memorial in Jhiram Valley to pay homage to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for Chhattisgarh. He also toured the site where, in 2013, Naxalites launched a cowardly attack on unarmed individuals. Baij stressed that justice has not yet been served in the Jhiram Valley attack. He said a swift and complete investigation to identify the culprits would bring proper justice to the martyrs' families and the people of Chhattisgarh. The Jhiram Ghati massacre took place on May 25, 2013, in Bastar's Darbha Valley, claiming the lives of over 30 people, including prominent Congress leaders such as Mahendra Karma, Nand Kumar Patel, and Uday Mudliyar. Despite the passage of over a decade, the full truth behind the attack remains elusive.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
8.2cr tendu leaf bonus embezzled by forest officials: LoP tells guv of ‘scam'
Raipur: Leader of Opposition in Chhattisgarh legislative assembly, Dr Charan Das Mahant has alleged a massive financial scam, amounting to Rs 8.2 crore, in the distribution of tendu leaf bonus payments meant for tribal collectors in the Sukma district forest division . Mahant has demanded immediate punitive and corrective action against the forest department officials involved in embezzeling the money, calling the state govt's inaction 'deeply disappointing.' In a letter addressed to Chhattisgarh Governor Ramen Deka , Mahant stated that 67,732 tribal families—registered tendu leaf collectors in Scheduled Area Sukma—were supposed to receive a combined bonus of Rs 8,21,89,273 for the years 2021 and 2022. This bonus, amounting to Rs 4.51 crore for 2021 and Rs 3.70 crore for 2022, was sent to the division forest officer (DFO) of Sukma to be disbursed in cash during 2023–24. "Despite the funds being allocated, no distribution took place. Instead, a coordinated criminal conspiracy was carried out by officials of the forest department, where managers of 25 Primary Minor Forest Produce Cooperatives, embezzled the entire amount," he alleged. He added that the forest department later claimed that 100% of the bonus had been distributed, and this false claim was even presented on the floor of the Legislative Assembly during the Feb-March 2025 Budget Session by the forest minister. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Scarlett Johansson Shows Off Her Jaw-Dropping Figure - See Photos 33 Bridges Mahant credits Congress party workers' vigilance for exposing the fraud. Their complaints led to preliminary investigations, raids, and the suspension and arrest of one forest official recently. Mahant has made the some key demands including full bonus amount of Rs 8.21 crore should be re-issued and disbursed to the eligible collectors on a priority basis. He further asked that all officials involved in the embezzlement—including forest officers, cooperative society managers, and nodal officials—should be suspended, arrested under IPC 2023 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, and face disciplinary action. "Bonus distribution records in other divisions must be audited by independent departments, not the forest department itself," Mahant demanded, adding that some of the poorest tribal families were robbed.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Massive Rs 8.2 cr tendu leaf bonus ‘scam' in Sukma, alleges Chhattisgarh LOP Mahant in letter to Governor
RAIPUR: Leader of Opposition in Chhattisgarh legislative assembly, Dr Charan Das Mahant has alleged a massive financial scam in the distribution of tendu leaf bonus payments meant for tribal collectors in the Sukma district forest division . Mahant has demanded immediate punitive and corrective action against the officials involved, calling the state government's inaction 'deeply disappointing.' In a letter addressed to Chhattisgarh Governor Ramen Deka , Mahant stated that 67,732 tribal families—registered tendu leaf collectors in Scheduled Area Sukma—were supposed to receive a combined bonus of Rs 8,21,89,273 for the years 2021 and 2022. This bonus, amounting to Rs 4.51 crore for 2021 and Rs 3.70 crore for 2022, was sent to the Division Forest Officer (DFO) of Sukma to be disbursed in cash during the 2023–24 financial year. 'Despite the funds being allocated, no distribution took place. Instead, a coordinated criminal conspiracy was carried out by officials of the forest department, managers of 25 Primary Minor Forest Produce Cooperatives, and the DFO to embezzle the entire amount,' Mahant alleged. He added that the forest department later claimed that 100% of the bonus had been distributed, and this false claim was even presented on the floor of the Legislative Assembly during the February-March 2025 Budget Session by the Forest Minister. Mahant has questioned how such blatant misinformation could be allowed to stand unchallenged. Mahant credits Congress party workers' vigilance for exposing the fraud. Their complaints led to preliminary investigations, raids, and the suspension and arrest of one forest official recently. Mahant has made the some key demands including full bonus amount of Rs 8.21 crore should be re-issued by the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Federation and disbursed to the eligible collectors on a priority basis. He further asked that all officials involved in the embezzlement—including forest officers, cooperative society managers, and nodal officials—should be suspended, arrested under IPC 2023 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, and face disciplinary action. 'Action must be taken against those who provided false information to the Legislative Assembly. Officials responsible for tendu collection in 2025—the same individuals implicated in the scam—must be immediately removed. Bonus distribution records in other divisions must be audited by independent departments, not the forest department itself,' Mahant demanded. 'This is not just about money. It is about robbing the poorest tribal families of their rightful due, in a state led by a tribal Chief Minister,' Mahant wrote.
