Madhya Pradesh: Kundaliya Dam Project Scam, Nine More Booked By Lokayukta

Nalkheda (Madhya Pradesh): After an investigation into illegal payments related to the Kundaliya Dam project, the Ujjain Lokayukta registered a case against nine more public servants for corruption on Thursday.

The dam, built at a cost of around  Rs 5.85 crore on the Kalisindh River, required displacement of villagers in Bhandawad, Nalkheda. Despite the case being filed, no action was taken against accused public servants, allowing them to continue using government vehicles and potentially influence the investigation.

The case stems from complaint by Dashrath Singh of Jhonta village, regarding the distribution of cash in exchange for plots in the rehabilitation package. The Lokayukta identified 107 individuals involved in embezzlement of Rs 5.85 crore, including 11 government officials. Notably, the anticipatory bail application of Naib Tehsildar Paras Vaishya was rejected by court.

During the dam's construction, families were promised a special rehabilitation allowance of Rs 5 lakh for displacement. However, some beneficiaries manipulated documents to falsely claim payments for minors as adults, colluding with officials to obtain these funds illegally.

The investigation revealed that the committee responsible for verifying documents failed to do so properly, resulting in ineligible beneficiaries receiving payments. The case against the public servants includes serious charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code, raising significant concerns about accountability and governance in the region.