Brijmohan Agrawal Slams Officials Over Rampant Illegal Liquor Sales in Raipur

BJP MP Brijmohan Agrawal on Monday came down heavily on police and excise officials for failing to curb the open sale of illegal liquor in several parts of the state capital. Speaking at a Suhasan Tihar outreach camp in Zone-5, Ashwini Nagar, the sitting Raipur South MP warned authorities to take strict action against even influential people involved in the illicit trade.

The incident, which took place on May 18, has gone viral on social media after a video of the MP’s strong remarks surfaced. Agrawal, known for his no-nonsense approach during public grievance meetings, did not hold back while addressing senior officials present on stage.

Strong Warning to Police and Excise Dept

Pointing out specific localities, Agrawal named Bhathagaon, Mathpurena, Changora Bhatha, Santoshi Nagar, and Tikrapara as hotspots where illegal liquor is being sold openly. “We know where the liquor is being sold. Don’t you (police) know?” he asked pointedly.

He further instructed officials, “Even if a big person is involved, pick him up and lock him. No bail for three months. Just do it. Why aren’t you sealing these places?”

The MP stressed that stopping the illegal liquor mafia was essential for maintaining law and order and public health in the city.

Mayor Meenal Chaubey Present on Stage

Raipur Mayor Meenal Chaubey was also present on the dais during the event. The public gathering saw residents raising multiple civic issues, but the discussion on illegal liquor clearly dominated the proceedings.

This is not the first time Agrawal has taken officials to task during Suhasan Tihar camps. Just days earlier, in a similar programme held at Samoda Nagar Panchayat in Arang, he had publicly reprimanded a Naib Tehsildar after receiving multiple complaints against him. That video too went viral, with locals cheering the MP’s direct approach.

Growing Concern Over Illicit Liquor Trade

Illegal liquor trade has been a long-standing problem in parts of Raipur, especially in semi-urban and resettlement colonies. Residents often complain of bootleggers operating with impunity, sometimes allegedly under political or police protection. The easy availability of cheap spurious liquor has also been linked to rising cases of addiction, domestic violence, and health hazards in lower-income areas.

Agrawal’s public outburst reflects mounting pressure on the administration to act decisively ahead of possible local body and other elections. By naming specific areas, the MP has put the onus directly on the ground-level machinery to deliver results.

Officials Yet to Respond Formally

As of now, neither the Raipur police nor the excise department has issued any official statement on the MP’s remarks. However, sources indicated that senior officers have taken note of the areas mentioned and are likely to intensify raids in the coming days.

The Suhasan Tihar initiative, promoted by the state government, aims to bring governance closer to citizens by holding weekly grievance redressal camps. While these platforms have helped many resolve local issues, they have also become venues where public representatives openly pull up errant officials.

Public Reaction Positive

Local residents in the affected areas welcomed Agrawal’s strong stand. Many said they had been complaining about illegal liquor dens for months without any visible action. “When an MP raises the issue publicly, hopefully something will move now,” said a resident of Santosh Nagar who did not wish to be named.

The repeated public criticism by the MP also highlights the disconnect that sometimes exists between political leadership and ground-level enforcement machinery in Chhattisgarh’s capital.

As the video continues to circulate widely, expectations have risen that the administration will launch a sustained drive against illegal liquor operators in the coming weeks.

Raipur MP Brijmohan Agarwal lashes out at Naib Tehsildar over corruption complaints, orders probe

Raipur MP Brijmohan Agarwal confronted Naib Tehsildar Gajanand Sidar publicly during a Susashan Tihar event, demanding a review of pending revenue cases within three days.

Tensions flared at a public grievance redressal camp in the Arang block of Raipur district when senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament Brijmohan Agarwal publicly pulled up a local revenue official over mounting allegations of bribery and procedural delays.

The incident, which took place during a 'Susashan Tihar' (Good Governance Festival) program at the Samoda High School ground on Friday, was captured on video and has since gone viral across social media platforms in Chhattisgarh.

Frustration over pending cases

According to sources familiar with the matter, a large number of villagers had gathered at the venue to submit memorandums and air grievances regarding local administration. However, the mood quickly turned tense when the focus shifted to the functioning of the Samoda sub-tehsil office.

Local residents alleged that routine revenue matters, including land mutations (namantaran), demarcations (seemankan), and property partitions (batwara), had been kept pending for months. Several villagers claimed on the record that lower-level staff routinely demanded bribes to process files.

Public confrontation on stage

Prompted by a stack of written complaints, Agarwal summoned the Naib Tehsildar posted at Samoda, Gajanand Sidar, to the stage. Visible annoyed, the Raipur MP questioned the official’s track record in front of the gathering.

"Should we felicitate you or what? The maximum number of complaints received here are against you," Agarwal was heard saying in the video. In a direct confrontation that drew loud cheers and applause from the crowd, the lawmaker asked the official what he told the public and added, "How much money do you take? How much money have you given to the MP?"

The official, seen standing in a blue shirt, gestured in denial, but the MP continued to press for immediate accountability regarding the pending applications.

District administration ordered to review

Taking serious note of the public resentment, Agarwal turned to senior administrative officers present on the dais, including Additional Collector Kirtiman Singh Rathore and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Abhilasha Paikra.

"The public has the most complaints against the Naib Tehsildar. Check how many cases are pending with him, review them, and resolve them quickly," Agarwal directed the officials. He further instructed the district administration to conduct a formal review of the Samoda tehsil office's functioning and submit a detailed report within three days.

Rising friction in rural camps

The incident highlights growing friction between elected representatives and ground-level revenue staff during the ongoing governance camps. While villagers welcomed the MP’s intervention, stating that direct accountability was long overdue, the aggressive posture of politicians has caused unease within administrative ranks.

This is the second such confrontation reported from the region this month. On May 5, a similar 'Susashan Tihar' camp in the Rajim constituency of Gariaband district saw local BJP MLA Rohit Sahu using harsh language against a village accountant (patwari) over bribery allegations, which subsequently led to a temporary boycott of the government camps by the local Patwari association.

Senior district officials indicated that special desks are being set up to clear the backlog of revenue cases in Arang to prevent further public discontent.

The weekly public hearing at the Rewa Collectorate turned tense on Tuesday after Rewa Collector Narendra Suryavanshi strongly reprimanded several officials over delays and negligence in resolving public grievances. Hundreds of residents from different parts of the district reached the Collectorate seeking solutions to issues related to land disputes, pensions, encroachment, and government schemes.

The strict action during the hearing has once again brought the working style of the newly appointed Rewa Collector into focus. Officials present during the proceedings witnessed sharp questioning and immediate instructions from the Collector regarding pending complaints.

Large Crowd at Jan Sunwai

The public hearing, locally known as Jan Sunwai, witnessed heavy footfall from early morning. Citizens queued outside the Collectorate with written applications and complaints concerning administrative inaction and departmental irregularities. Several complainants alleged that despite repeated visits to government offices, their problems remained unresolved. According to officials, the Collector personally reviewed multiple applications and instructed departments to ensure timely action. The proceedings remained active for several hours as officials from various departments were called individually to explain delays in resolving complaints.

Woman Officer Questioned

A major moment during the hearing came when a complaint linked to the fisheries department was raised before the Collector. The complainant reportedly accused the department of negligence and poor functioning.

Collector Narendra Suryavanshi immediately summoned the concerned woman officer and sought clarification in front of other officials and members of the public. Sources present during the hearing stated that the Collector appeared dissatisfied with the explanation provided by the department. His stern response created visible tension inside the public hearing room.

Collector Warns Officials

During the proceedings, the Rewa Collector made it clear that negligence in matters related to public welfare would not be tolerated under any circumstances. He reportedly told officials that delays in solving citizens’ issues reflected administrative failure. The Collector questioned officers about their daily functioning and asked why repeated complaints were still pending despite instructions from senior authorities. Officials present during the Jan Sunwai were directed to ensure accountability and transparency in handling applications related to welfare schemes and civic issues.

Encroachment Issue Raised

The Collector also expressed displeasure over complaints regarding encroachment on public roads. Municipal Corporation officials were questioned over the delay in anti-encroachment action despite repeated public complaints. the Collector directly asked concerned officials why encroachment removal drives had not been carried out effectively and what action had been taken so far. He instructed authorities to act immediately against illegal encroachments causing inconvenience to residents and warned against administrative negligence in civic matters.

Pension Case Sparks Anger

One of the most discussed cases during the hearing involved an elderly resident, Mathura Prasad Saket, who complained about not receiving his pension benefits. When the Collector asked the concerned Chief Executive Officer about the matter, the officer reportedly claimed that the issue had already been resolved. However, the elderly complainant informed the Collector that pension payments had still not started. The response angered the Collector, who questioned how the case could be marked resolved when the beneficiary had not received payment. He directed officials to ensure immediate resolution of the matter with dignity and respect towards the elderly citizen.

Strict Action Warning Issued

Collector Narendra Suryavanshi instructed all departments to take pending complaints seriously and warned officials against providing misleading information during public hearings. He stated that any officer found delaying work, ignoring public grievances, or submitting incorrect reports would face strict administrative action. Officials were also directed to improve coordination between departments to ensure faster resolution of cases related to welfare schemes, pensions, and civic administration.

Collector’s Working Style Discussed

The firm approach adopted during Tuesday’s hearing has added to growing discussions around the working style of Rewa Collector Narendra Suryavanshi. Since assuming charge, he has been conducting surprise inspections and closely monitoring attendance and departmental performance.

Administrative sources said his emphasis on punctuality, accountability, and field-level monitoring has increased pressure on officials across departments. The latest developments during the Jan Sunwai have become a major talking point within the district administration as well as among residents following local governance issues.

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Rewa Collector Orders Suspension of Revenue Official Over Bribery Allegation

Officials crack down on corruption in land transfer, PM housing scheme cases

Rewa district administration has taken swift action against corrupt officials following complaints of extortion in government schemes. Collector Narendra Kumar Suryavanshi suspended a revenue assistant on Wednesday for allegedly demanding bribes to process land inheritance transfers, while simultaneously issuing a show-cause notice to another official over separate corruption charges linked to the Prime Minister's Housing Scheme.

Tahasil Officer Held for Extortion

The suspended official, Prashant Tiwari, a Class-3 assistant posted at Semeriya tahasil, had allegedly stalled inheritance mutation cases for four applicants—Maan Singh, Kabil Singh, Umesh Singh, and Babli Singh—demanding payment to process their documents. The collector's office confirmed that Tiwari deliberately delayed the applications to extract bribes from the landowners seeking to transfer property rights through legal channels.

Collector Suryavanshi did not conduct an extended inquiry before taking action. Instead, based on preliminary examination of documents and complaint records, he issued suspension orders immediately, signalling zero tolerance for misconduct within the district administration.

Rapid Administrative Response

The decisive move reflects growing pressure on district authorities to curb corruption at the ground level. Officials familiar with the matter said the collector prioritized swift action over lengthy bureaucratic procedures, sending a strong message to revenue staff that misconduct would invite immediate consequences. As of Thursday, the suspended official had not filed any formal response or appeal against the suspension order.

Housing Scheme Bribery Case

In a parallel case, district authorities have turned their attention to allegations of extortion within the Prime Minister's Housing Scheme implementation. The collector issued a show-cause notice to the Chief Executive Officer of Gangev gram panchayat, directing the official to respond within three days.

The complaint was filed by Ramlakhan, a resident of Badokhar village under Sirmaur tahasil. According to his account, a gram rozgar sahayak—a village employment assistant—demanded Rs 20,000 as bribe to process his housing scheme survey. When Ramlakhan refused to pay, he was allegedly stripped of scheme benefits entirely.

Three-Day Response Deadline

The collector's directive to the CEO carries an implicit threat of action if the officer fails to provide satisfactory clarification. Officials said the three-day window allows for preliminary investigation before further steps are considered. The matter underscores systemic vulnerabilities in centrally sponsored schemes, where junior officials at the village level wield considerable discretion over beneficiary selection.

Ground-Level Corruption Pattern

These cases reflect a broader pattern of extortion at block and village administration levels, where officials exploit citizens' dependence on government services. Land mutations and housing scheme benefits are critical for vulnerable populations, making them easy targets for corrupt functionaries seeking quick money.

District authorities have faced mounting public complaints about such practices over recent months. The collector's intervention in both cases—suspension in one, notice in another—suggests a shift toward addressing corruption more seriously, though observers note that sustained monitoring and follow-up action will be necessary to prevent recurrence.

Next Steps Unclear

The administration has not yet announced whether the suspended official will face departmental inquiry or police action. Similarly, the outcome of the show-cause notice to Gangev's CEO remains uncertain. Officials indicated that depending on responses received, further measures could follow.

The Rewa administration's quick action comes amid broader state and national scrutiny of corruption within government schemes. The collector's office is expected to submit a compliance report to higher authorities detailing the cases and actions taken.