Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will visit Chhattisgarh on September 11 and participate in a major government programme in Sakti district. The event will include inauguration and foundation-laying of development works worth over ₹122 crore and housewarming ceremonies for two lakh rural families.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will visit Chhattisgarh on September 11, where he will participate in a major development programme at the College Ground in Jetha village of Sakti district.The event will be attended by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai along with other senior leaders and government officials. During the programme, several initiatives related to rural development, housing, livelihood generation, women empowerment and technology-based governance will be launched.

Development projects worth ₹122 crore to be inaugurated

During the programme, 39 development projects worth more than ₹122 crore will be inaugurated and foundation stones will be laid.The projects are expected to improve basic infrastructure in rural areas, including housing facilities, roads and other essential services.

Housewarming ceremony for 2 lakh families

A major highlight of the event will be the housewarming ceremony of two lakh beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).Beneficiary families who have received newly constructed houses will be symbolically handed over the “key of happiness” as part of the programme.The initiative aims to showcase progress in providing permanent houses to rural families across the state.

AI-based verification system to be launched

The programme will also witness the launch of an AI-based geo-tag verification and self geo-tag reporting system for rural housing projects.The new technology is expected to make monitoring of house construction more transparent and efficient by improving digital verification processes.

Senior leaders to attend programme

Several prominent leaders and officials are expected to participate in the event, including:

• Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Sharma and Arun Sao

• Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu

• State ministers

• MPs and MLAs

• Panchayat representatives

• Senior government officials

Various schemes related to Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin, Viksit Bharat initiatives and National Rural Livelihood Mission will also be highlighted during the programme.

Focus on rural development

The visit is being seen as an important step towards strengthening rural development programmes in Chhattisgarh. The government aims to accelerate housing, livelihood opportunities and digital monitoring systems through these initiatives.

Police in Chhattisgarh's Sakti district have intensified enforcement against underage driving with the beginning of the new academic session. During a special traffic checking drive conducted outside a private school, authorities found 12 minor students riding two-wheelers in violation of traffic regulations.

The enforcement drive was carried out on Monday near Anunay Convent School under the directions of Superintendent of Police Prafull Kumar Thakur.

Special Drive Outside School

According to the traffic police, officers conducted inspections outside the school to identify students arriving on motorcycles and scooters without valid eligibility to drive.

During the operation, 12 minors were found operating two-wheelers. Police also detected several adult students riding vehicles without possessing a valid driving licence.

Traffic officials initiated legal action against all violators under the applicable provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

₹27,000 Fine Collected

Police issued challans against the violators and collected a total fine of ₹27,000 during the enforcement drive.

The operation was supervised by Traffic In-charge Inspector Y.N. Sharma, with ASI Surendra Singh and ASI Mahanadiya participating in the inspection.

Officials said similar drives will continue across the district during the academic session.

Awareness Campaign Alongside Enforcement

Traffic police said they have also launched an awareness campaign targeting schools, students and parents to discourage underage driving.

Educational institutions have been advised to ensure that students who are below the legal driving age do not commute to school on motorcycles or scooters.

Police believe that cooperation from schools and parents will be essential in reducing traffic violations involving minors.

Appeal to Parents

Superintendent of Police Prafull Kumar Thakur appealed to parents not to allow underage children to drive vehicles, warning that such practices significantly increase the risk of road accidents.

Traffic officials reiterated that underage driving is both illegal and unsafe and urged families to ensure compliance with road safety regulations.

Inspector Y.N. Sharma said enforcement against juvenile traffic violations would continue in the coming weeks, adding that strict action would be taken against anyone found violating the rules.

The accused, Dr Santosh Kumar Patel, was arrested by the ACB's Bilaspur unit during a planned trap operation on Wednesday night. Officials said the doctor had allegedly demanded the money in exchange for forwarding salary-related pay data required for the release of the complainant's pending wages.

According to the ACB, the complainant, Ganga Prasad Ratnakar, is a Grade-II pharmacist who has been attached to the District Hospital in Sakti since February 2026. His original posting is at the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) office in Portha, Sakti district.

Ratnakar alleged that despite performing his duties, his salary for May and June 2026 had not been processed because the required pay data had not been forwarded to the CMHO office. He claimed that Dr Patel demanded ₹20,000 per month for forwarding his pay records from February to June 2026, taking the total alleged bribe demand to ₹1 lakh.

Instead of paying the amount, the pharmacist approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau and lodged a formal complaint. After verifying the allegations, ACB officials concluded that a prima facie case existed and decided to organise a trap operation.

According to investigators, Dr Patel instructed the complainant to bring the money to Dabhra on July 23. The meeting was reportedly fixed near Dabhra College Chowk, where the complainant arrived in a Scorpio vehicle carrying the marked currency notes provided as part of the trap.

Officials said that at around 9 pm, the accused entered the complainant's vehicle and accepted the cash. The ACB team, which had been monitoring the transaction, immediately intervened and caught the Civil Surgeon while he was allegedly in possession of the bribe amount.

The entire sum of ₹1 lakh was recovered from the accused at the spot. Following the arrest, the ACB registered a case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and initiated further legal proceedings.

Investigators are now examining whether similar demands were made from other employees in the department and whether additional officials were involved in the alleged corruption. Officials indicated that further questioning and scrutiny of official records would form part of the investigation.

The arrest has triggered concern within the district's health administration, where the accused held a key supervisory position at the government hospital. The incident has also raised questions regarding administrative procedures linked to salary processing and internal oversight in the health department.

The ACB has reiterated that government employees facing demands for illegal gratification should report such incidents instead of paying bribes. Officials said public cooperation remains an important factor in identifying and acting against corruption in government offices.

The investigation is continuing, and the agency is expected to present the accused before the competent court while pursuing additional evidence in the case.

Chhattisgarh Police have cracked the sensational murder of 25-year-old Purnima Chauhan, alias Poonam, in Sakti district, arresting nine people including the victim’s married boyfriend and his wife in a contract killing case.

According to police, Purnima was in a relationship with married man Murlishankar Chauhan. When she started pressuring him for marriage, Murlishankar and his wife Champa allegedly hired shooters for ₹4 lakh to eliminate her.

On June 26 morning, two masked youths entered Purnima’s house in Jongra village under Sakti police station and shot her three times. She was rushed to hospital but declared dead on arrival.

The couple paid ₹2 lakh in advance to the shooters. Champa allegedly broke her post office account to arrange the money. Seven others were involved in planning and execution of the crime.

Police arrested Murlishankar, Champa, and seven others from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra after technical surveillance, call detail records, and CCTV footage. A pistol, live cartridges, two bikes, and cash were recovered.

The shooters reportedly watched the film Shooter for planning the murder.

This case has once again highlighted the dark side of extra-marital affairs turning fatal. Police said further investigation is on to ascertain the full conspiracy.

Chhattisgarh is expected to witness continued weather activity over the next five days, with the India Meteorological Department forecasting thunderstorms, lightning and light to moderate rainfall across several parts of the state.

According to the weather department, the southwest monsoon is likely to advance into additional regions of Chhattisgarh around June 23, potentially increasing rainfall activity in the coming days. The forecast comes after multiple districts recorded showers and thunderstorm activity during the last 24 hours.

While rain brought some relief to parts of the state, temperatures remained high in several areas. Raipur emerged as the hottest location in Chhattisgarh, recording a maximum temperature of 40.8 degrees Celsius. Pendra Road reported the lowest minimum temperature at 22.8 degrees Celsius.

The changing weather pattern has also led to tragic incidents.

In Sakti district, an 11-year-old schoolgirl lost her life after being struck by lightning on Friday evening. The victim, identified as Deepti Chandra, was a Class 6 student and was reportedly playing outside her house in Anda village when the incident occurred.

Preliminary information suggests that lightning struck the area suddenly during unstable weather conditions. The impact proved fatal, and the child died on the spot. The incident has left the local community and the victim’s family in shock.

The fatality highlights the risks associated with lightning strikes during the pre-monsoon and early monsoon period. Authorities and weather experts regularly advise residents to avoid open spaces and seek shelter during thunderstorms, particularly in rural areas where people often remain outdoors.

The Sakti incident is not the only weather-related tragedy reported recently. In Raigarh district, a woman died after a wall collapsed during heavy rain, while two others sustained injuries. Such incidents have raised concerns about public safety as weather conditions become increasingly unpredictable across the region.

Meteorologists say the current weather activity is being driven by favourable atmospheric conditions supporting thundercloud formation over central and northern parts of the state. As the monsoon progresses further into Chhattisgarh, more districts could experience spells of rain accompanied by gusty winds and lightning.

In Raipur, partly cloudy skies are expected through the day, with the possibility of thunderstorms and rain. The maximum temperature is likely to remain around 40 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature may hover near 27 degrees Celsius.

Officials have urged residents to remain cautious during periods of thunderstorm activity. People have been advised to avoid standing under trees, near electric poles, or in open fields when lightning is reported. Farmers, outdoor workers and children have been identified as particularly vulnerable during such weather events.

With the monsoon expected to advance further into the state this week, authorities are closely monitoring weather developments. Further updates are expected as conditions evolve.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Bilaspur on Monday arrested three officials of Sakti Janpad Panchayat after catching them red‑handed while accepting a ₹1 lakh bribe. The accused — Janpad CEO Nikhil Kashyap, assistant grade‑3 clerk Avinash Thakur and peon Lachhan Bhanu — allegedly demanded ₹2 lakh to release the next tranche of funds under the Prime Minister’s Adarsh Gram Yojana.

According to ACB officials, the case began with a complaint by Arun Kumar Bhardwaj of Limtara village. Arun told investigators that his mother, the village sarpanch, had received sanction for development works — including construction of a ghat and drains — worth ₹20 lakh. While a cheque for ₹8 lakh had already been issued, the remaining ₹12 lakh was pending.

Arun said that when he approached CEO Nikhil Kashyap and clerk Avinash Thakur for release of the balance cheque, both demanded ₹2 lakh to process it. He refused and lodged a complaint with ACB, Bilaspur, which launched an inquiry. Preliminary probe revealed that an advance of ₹1 lakh had already been taken via the office peon, the ACB said.

Acting on the complaint, ACB planned a trap on June 15. The complainant visited the Janpad office with the remaining ₹1 lakh, handed the cash to the peon as instructed, and ACB teams swooped in and arrested all three. The seized cash was recovered from the accused, officials said.

“The accused were caught accepting ₹1 lakh in furtherance of a demand of ₹2 lakh for issuing the sanction cheque,” an ACB officer said. Cases have been registered under sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended), and legal proceedings are underway.

Local sources allege the CEO had directed the clerk to coordinate the transaction, and the clerk had in turn used the peon to collect money. The ACB statement said the agency will examine departmental records and communications to trace any larger nexus or recurring malpractice.

The detained officials were taken into custody and will be produced before court as the probe continues. “We will follow the evidence trail. No corrupt practice will be tolerated,” an ACB spokesperson told reporters, declining to share operational details pending further action.

The incident has stirred concern among panchayat members and villagers in Limtara, who said development work was being held up while officials allegedly levered their position to seek bribes. “Funds were sanctioned for basic public works. We hope ACB action ensures justice and the release of pending money,” said a resident who asked not to be named.

The arrests come amid increased scrutiny of local governance and public fund disbursement in Chhattisgarh. In recent months authorities have stepped up anti‑graft operations targeting irregularities in welfare and rural development schemes. Observers say such quick trap operations are intended to send a deterrent message to officials who exploit procedural delays to extract money.

The ACB has collected statements from the complainant and other witnesses and will also seek to verify records related to the PM Adarsh Gram Yojana sanction and cheque issuance. Further details, including exact departmental disciplinary steps against the accused, are awaited as the investigation progresses.

Accused in brutal murder of specially-abled teacher found dead in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti

Prime suspect Timan Lal Manhar allegedly committed suicide by hanging at his residence following a fatal dispute over a ₹7 lakh land deal in Jarve village.

SAKTI: In a dramatic turn of events in the Devanand Bhardwaj murder case, the prime suspect, Timan Lal Manhar, was found dead at his residence in Sakti district on Saturday. Preliminary police reports suggest that Manhar committed suicide by hanging, appearing to succumb to the pressure of an imminent arrest.

The development comes just days after the charred remains of Devanand Bhardwaj, a 42-year-old specially-abled government teacher, were discovered. Investigations revealed that the victim was brutally murdered and his body set ablaze along with his tricycle to destroy evidence.

Deadly dispute over land

The roots of the violence trace back to a failed real estate transaction. According to sources indicated by the local police, Bhardwaj had paid Manhar approximately ₹7 lakh to purchase a plot of land.

Despite receiving the full payment, Manhar reportedly refused to execute the land registry or refund the amount. This financial friction led to a heated confrontation between the two on the evening of March 19 near a local shop.

Brutal assault and arson

Witnesses stated that the argument escalated quickly. As Bhardwaj attempted to return home on his motorized tricycle, Manhar allegedly intercepted him in an isolated stretch.

The accused reportedly used an axe to inflict multiple fatal wounds on the teacher’s neck and head. In a gruesome attempt to conceal the crime, the assailant set both the victim and his vehicle on fire before fleeing the scene.

Police recovery and forensics

Upon receiving information from villagers, the Sakti police and a forensic team reached the site to recover the remains. Bloodstains and charred debris provided immediate leads pointing toward Manhar.

"We had launched a massive manhunt for the suspect. However, teams found him hanging at his house today," a senior police official stated. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination to rule out any foul play in the suspect's death.

Impact on Jarve village

The twin tragedies have sent shockwaves through Jarve village. Bhardwaj, who was posted at a government school in Pihrid, was well-regarded in the community for overcoming his physical disabilities to serve as an educator.

Local residents have expressed grief over the loss of the teacher, while the sudden death of the accused has left the legal proceedings in a state of complexity regarding the recovery of the defrauded money.

Current status of investigation

While the primary perpetrator is deceased, the Sakti police are continuing their probe to identify if any accomplices assisted in the arson. Officials are also examining the financial records related to the land deal.

The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). A detailed report is expected once the forensic analysis of the crime scene and the autopsy reports are finalized.

Future legal outlook

The death of the accused usually leads to the abatement of criminal proceedings against that individual. However, the victim's family may still pursue civil litigation to recover the ₹7 lakh involved in the disputed transaction from Manhar’s estate.