FIR lodged against Panchayat Pradhan in Govt Cement embezzlement case

Shimla/Chamba, Feb 6,

In a fresh case of alleged corruption in Gram Panchayats, an FIR has been registered against Sanwal Panchayat Pradhan Mohan Lal and Kewal Krishna, brother of the former Zila Parishad member, for their involvement in a government cement embezzlement scam. The accused are alleged to have conspired to divert and sell government cement worth ₹1.40 lakh by fabricating fake bills.

According to police reports, a truck carrying 276 bags of government cement left from the Civil Supply store in Tisa on January 31, destined for Sanwal. However, instead of proceeding to its official destination, the truck was redirected towards Chamba. The cement was being offloaded at a private store three kilometers away from Tisa when the police intercepted it. Upon questioning, the truck driver failed to produce a legitimate government bill for the consignment.

The police investigation revealed that the cement was allocated to the Civil Supply store without any official demand from the Panchayat. On February 1, the Panchayat Pradhan allegedly submitted a false demand to the store after the cement had already been released. As per regulations, only the contractor associated with the Panchayat is authorized to collect government cement, but this procedure was blatantly disregarded in this case.

During the inquiry, the Sanwal Panchayat Secretary testified that no official request for government cement had been made by the Panchayat. This further strengthened suspicions of irregularities and fraudulent activities.

Superintendent of Police Abhishek Yadav confirmed that a case has been registered against the accused, and further investigations are underway to uncover the extent of the conspiracy and identify other individuals who may be involved.

This incident comes amid growing allegations of financial mismanagement in Himachal Pradesh’s Gram Panchayats. The misuse of public funds and illicit supply of government resources, such as cement, have raised serious concerns over governance and transparency at the local level.

Authorities have assured a thorough investigation into the case, and strict action is expected against those found guilty.

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The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.

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Himachalscape bureau

The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.