Bharatmala Compensation Scam: ACB Files First Supplementary Chargesheet, Three Officials Accused of Causing ₹40 Crore Loss
Raipur
In a major development in the alleged Bharatmala Project compensation scam, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed the first supplementary chargesheet against three arrested government officials, accusing them of causing a financial loss of nearly ₹40 crore to the state exchequer.
The supplementary chargesheet was submitted on January 24, 2026, before the Special Court (Prevention of Corruption Act), Raipur, in Crime No. 30/2025. The case has been registered under Sections 7(c) and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended in 2018) and Sections 409, 467, 471, 420 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code.
All three accused were arrested on October 29, 2025. According to the ACB, their actions, on a prima facie basis, resulted in a total loss of ₹39,65,89,257 to the state government. Investigation against other accused persons is still underway.
What the ACB Alleges
As per the prosecution, government officials, compensation beneficiaries and private individuals allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy in land acquisition cases related to the Raipur–Visakhapatnam proposed Economic Corridor under the Bharatmala Project.
The accused allegedly:
- Re-sold government-acquired land back to the government and claimed compensation
- Paid inflated compensation on incorrect grounds for private land
- Carried out backdated partition and mutation of land records
- Paid compensation to persons other than the actual landowners
- Artificially subdivided land into smaller plots to inflate compensation amounts
These acts allegedly caused substantial financial loss to the government.
Role of the Accused Officials
Dinesh Patel (then Patwari, Halqa No. 49, Nayakbandha village)
➡️ Accused of misusing his official position and manipulating land records
➡️ During the award stage, acquired land was shown as artificially subdivided plots
➡️ Estimated loss: ₹30.82 crore
Lekhram Devangan (then Patwari, Tokro village, Halqa No. 24)
➡️ Allegedly manipulated account correction records, Form-10 and payment reports
➡️ Original land parcels were shown as multiple smaller plots
➡️ Estimated loss: ₹7.16 crore
Basanti Ghritlahare (then Patwari, Bhelwadih village)
➡️ Allegedly falsely depicted land as subdivided plots at the award stage
➡️ Estimated loss: ₹1.67 crore
Investigation Continues
The ACB stated that the supplementary chargesheet has been filed against the three arrested officials, while investigation into the role of other accused persons is ongoing. Further action may follow as the probe progresses.
