The Economic Offences Investigation Bureau (EOW) has started a major crackdown on the land acquisition scam under the Bharatmala Project. Since Friday morning, raids are being conducted simultaneously at the locations of about 17 to 20 officials.

It is being told that the officials and brokers embezzled crores of rupees by making large-scale irregularities in the compensation amount given to the farmers. The amount of this scam is being said to be around Rs 43 crore.

Manipulation in compensation amount also

After the matter was raised in the Assembly, the EOW registered an FIR and started investigation. During the investigation, it was revealed that in the name of land acquisition, government officials colluded and made huge manipulations in the compensation amount. So far, many officials have been suspended.

The EOW team has raided the residences of the then SDM Nirbhay Sahu and Tehsildar Shashikant Kurre in Raipur. Apart from this, raids are also going on in Abhanpur, Arang, Durg and Bhilai. Many officers of the Revenue Department like SDM, Tehsildar, Patwari and Revenue Inspector are included in the raid.