3 min readRaipurFeb 12, 2026 07:00 AM IST
A deputy collector and a tehsildar were arrested by Chhattisgarh’s Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offences Wing on Wednesday in connection with their alleged roles in the misappropriation of funds for the Bharatmala road project. The arrests came after the Supreme Court rejected their bail pleas.
The case pertains to the construction of the Raipur-Visakhapatnam and Durg-Bypass roads under the Bharatmala project. The duo were identified as Deputy Collector Shashikant Kurre, the then Tehsildar of Abhanpur, and Tehsildar Lakheshwar Prasad Kiran, the then Naib Tehsildar of Gobra Nawapara, Raipur District.
Last March, the opposition Congress had raised the issue in the Vidhan Sabha, demanding a CBI probe. The then Leader of Opposition, Charan Das Mahant, had alleged in the House, “If you calculate all the roads of the Bharatmala project, then over Rs 350 crore more has been paid (as compensation for land acquisition). It is a big issue. Many senior officials are involved. I have no hesitation in saying that two-three party leaders may be involved. My only request to the chief minister and the minister is that this must be probed by the CBI.”
The case was eventually handed over to the state ACB/EOW.
“It is alleged that the duo conspired with subordinate patwaris, revenue inspectors, the land mafia, and others. The group prepared or facilitated the creation of forged revenue records and documents,” said a police official.
“By awarding affected landowners compensation amounts many times higher than the actual value, they allegedly caused a financial loss of crores of rupees to the government,” the official said.
The duo have been booked under charges of corruption, cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy.
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A Special Court in Raipur had already issued permanent arrest warrants and proclamations against these individuals and other absconding public servants. Proceedings for the attachment of their property are currently pending before the Special Court.
After allegedly remaining absconding for a significant period, both accused were arrested on Wednesday and sent to police custody for ten days.
Last October, the agency filed its first chargesheet against 10 people for allegedly embezzling Rs 32 crore in compensation meant for land acquisition in the Bharatmala road project corridor between Raipur and Visakhapatnam from 2020 to 2024.
