Raipur
Former Chhattisgarh Home Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nankiram Kanwar was detained by Raipur police at Gahoi Bhavan on Saturday. Kanwar was planning to stage a protest outside the Chief Minister’s House against his own government, demanding the removal of Korba Collector Ajit Vasant over alleged corruption.
Police officials stopped the former minister near AIIMS Raipur as he attempted to leave his hotel for the protest site. Kanwar reportedly tried to jump the gate to proceed to the demonstration.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the administration, Kanwar stated that if the current approach continued, the BJP would not form the government in the next election. “The public says the BJP will not get more than 15 seats next time,” he claimed.
Kanwar had demanded the removal of Korba Collector Ajit Vasant, citing several allegations of corruption and ‘dictatorial‘ functioning. The former minister had explicitly warned the administration that he would stage a sit-in demonstration in Raipur if no action was taken by 4 October.
He arrived in Raipur late on Friday evening and had formally informed the Raipur District Administration about his planned protest, scheduled to begin at 10.30 am on Saturday. Police intervention came as he was leaving his hotel.
Following Kanwar’s complaint, the state government has sought an investigation report from Bilaspur Divisional Commissioner Sunil Jain. Jain, while speaking to the media, confirmed that while a formal written order had not yet been received, he would conduct the inquiry and submit his report promptly upon receiving the directive.
Sources suggest that an investigation has been ordered in the matter, and action will be taken as per rules once the report is submitted.
Kanwar has levelled serious allegations of corruption and misuse of power against Collector Ajit Vasant, including:
- alleged fraud of billions of rupees involving 40,000 women from self-help groups,
- irregularities worth crores in fake compensation cases in Malgaon and Raliya,
- targeting of BJP workers and journalists, including the sealing of rice mills and petrol pumps of party members,
- demolition of a journalist’s house, allegedly misusing authority in the Rajgalar Panchayat matter,
- arrest of two local youths at the Madanpur toll plaza after the Collector’s wife’s vehicle was stopped for toll tax,
- alleged misappropriation of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds for private gain and collusion with a private company,
- alleged illegal payment of salary to Dr. Rupal Thakur (the Collector’s wife) from the DMF fund for a medical position without performing the required duties.
The controversy was previously highlighted when the Collector had sent a notice to former minister Jaisingh Agrawal over a Facebook post that allegedly tarnished the administration’s image.
