The Chhattisgarh government on Friday commenced its two-day 'Chintan Shivir 3.0' at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur, bringing together Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, members of the state cabinet and subject experts from across the country to deliberate on governance reforms, administrative innovation and the state's long-term development strategy.

The annual retreat, being held on July 4 and 5, is aimed at reviewing the government's functioning while preparing a roadmap for improving governance through technology, institutional reforms and better coordination among departments.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, who inaugurated the programme, said the objective of the exercise extends beyond policy discussions. According to him, effective governance requires continuous improvement in administrative systems and a work culture that remains transparent, accountable and responsive to public expectations.

Government officials said the retreat has been designed as a platform where policymakers can interact directly with experts from diverse fields and incorporate their recommendations into future policy decisions. The discussions are expected to help strengthen coordination between departments and improve the delivery of public services across the state.

Over the two-day programme, ministers and senior officials will participate in thematic sessions covering a wide range of subjects, including agriculture, rural development, industrial growth, investment promotion, tourism, sports, innovation, artificial intelligence, leadership development and institutional reforms.

Another key focus of the discussions will be strengthening governance through technology-driven solutions. The government intends to explore ways to make administrative processes faster, more transparent and citizen-centric by integrating digital tools into public service delivery.

Officials said the retreat will also examine methods to improve implementation of welfare schemes, enhance inter-departmental collaboration and identify administrative practices that can produce measurable outcomes for citizens.

Speaking about the initiative, the Chief Minister said good governance is not limited to launching welfare programmes but also involves adapting to changing times and continuously improving the quality of public administration. He added that the government is working towards creating an administrative culture that delivers efficient services while maintaining transparency and accountability.

The programme features several eminent speakers who will address ministers and senior bureaucrats on leadership, governance and sector-specific challenges.

On the opening day, spiritual leader and motivational speaker Gaur Gopal Das is scheduled to deliver a session on leadership and life values. Technology expert Abhay Karandikar will discuss emerging technologies and the future of governance, while agricultural economist Dr. Ramesh Chand will share insights on agriculture and rural economic development.

The second day's schedule will begin with a yoga session, followed by lectures from senior experts representing different sectors. Suman Billa will speak on tourism and the services sector, Shashank Mani Tripathi will address public policy and development, Olympic medallist Gagan Narang will share his perspectives on leadership and building a culture of excellence, while Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe will deliver a session on good governance and citizen-centric administration.

According to the state government, the retreat is intended to move beyond theoretical discussions by developing practical strategies that can strengthen governance across departments. Particular emphasis will be placed on administrative innovation, faster decision-making, improved coordination and wider use of technology to deliver government services more efficiently.

Now in its third consecutive year, the Chintan Shivir has become a key internal policy exercise for the Chhattisgarh government. The recommendations emerging from the two-day deliberations are expected to shape governance priorities and administrative reforms in the coming months as the state seeks to improve service delivery and accelerate development initiatives.

Multiple districts report heated exchanges between politicians and officials, while ACB nabs government staff accepting bribes during public grievance camps.

What was meant to be a showcase of governance efficiency turned chaotic across several Chhattisgarh districts on Friday, as video clips of heated arguments between politicians and officials went viral, even as the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) carried out multiple arrests for bribery during the state’s ‘Sushasan Tihar’ (Good Governance Festival) camps.

The camps, set up to resolve public grievances, instead became flashpoints in Durg, Korba, Bilaspur, and Raigarh. Officials and public representatives clashed openly in front of villagers, while at least two government employees were caught red-handed accepting illegal payments.

Face-off in Thanod village

In Durg district’s Thanod village, BJP leader Puran Deshmukh, who serves as the Durg rural district general secretary, engaged in a sharp exchange with Janpad CEO Rupesh Pandey. The argument, captured on video, shows the CEO pointing a finger at the BJP leader and saying, “Do whatever you want to do.”

According to local sources, Deshmukh was upset over the release of funds for a community hall. He alleged that funds were released during the current sarpanch’s tenure despite a stay order he had obtained earlier. The CEO countered that the stay had already been lifted. The entire episode unfolded in the presence of Durg rural MLA Lalit Chandrakar.

ACB arrests clerk in Korba

At a separate camp in Korba district’s Tumaan area under Podi Uproda block, ACB teams arrested assistant grade-2 official Pradeep Mishra for allegedly demanding and accepting a ₹40,000 bribe. The complainant, a retired teacher named Amritlal Baghel, had visited the camp to get entries made in his GPF passbook.

Baghel approached the Bilaspur ACB after Mishra allegedly demanded the money. A team led by DSP Ajit Singh laid a trap and caught the official while accepting the cash. Officials said Mishra had previous complaints of financial irregularities against him. The ACB is now probing if other complainants at the camp were also extorted.

Patwari suspended over viral video

A separate incident in Korba’s Pasan area led to the suspension of patwari Vinod Agrawal after a video surfaced showing him counting currency notes under his office table. Locals alleged the patwari routinely demanded bribes – up to ₹5,000 for forest patta processing and up to ₹10,000 for mutation of land after death.

One villager secretly filmed the patwari demanding money for a ‘fauti namantaran’ (mutation after death). Following the video’s circulation, the SDM ordered Agrawal’s suspension. He also held additional charge of the Sirri area.

Congress leader, MLA clash in Bilaspur

In Bilaspur’s Godhi village under Bilha block, a dispute broke out between local Congress leader Rajendra Shukla and BJP MLA Dharam Lal Kaushik. Shukla, along with supporters, was raising slogans such as “Stop this farce in the name of Sushasan Tihar” when the situation escalated.

Shukla later told reporters that there was no direct confrontation with the MLA. “When camps are organised to solve problems, everyone has the right to question officials. When I started asking about unresolved issues, someone tried to snatch the mic,” he said.

MLA Kaushik, however, claimed Shukla was “attacking officers” when he arrived. “I told him to stay calm. Everyone is here to solve public problems under the Chief Minister’s leadership. There is no need to disrupt official work,” Kaushik said, adding that Shukla eventually left with his supporters.

 Clerk held in Raigarh with ₹60,000

In Raigarh district, ACB arrested clerk Tularam Patel at the Chhal tehsil office for allegedly demanding ₹1 lakh to correct errors in a B-1 land record. Acting on a complaint by Bhanupratap Patel, the bureau laid a trap and caught Patel accepting ₹60,000 on Friday. Investigations are ongoing to determine if others were involved.

 Head constable faces bribery rap

In a related development from Bilaspur, a head constable was suspended after a video emerged showing him demanding ₹10,000 to release three accused. The officer was heard saying in the clip, “I cannot let go of three people for just ₹5,000. Arrange ₹10,000 for all three.” The police department has initiated disciplinary proceedings.

The multiple incidents have raised questions about the effectiveness of the month-long ‘Sushasan Tihar’, which the state government has been promoting as a citizen-centric initiative. Officials say they are reviewing the complaints and further action is expected.

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.