Tendu leaf fund scam: ACB, EOW raid continues on Day 2 in Sukma district

Raipur: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) continued their crackdown for the second consecutive day in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, on the premises of forest department officials and tendu leaf managers in connection with the alleged embezzlement of tendu leaf bonus funds. On Friday, simultaneous raids were carried out at eight locations across four areas, including Sukma, Dornapal, and Konta.

The operation is part of an ongoing investigation into widespread corruption linked to the bonus payments meant for tendu leaf collectors during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

A day earlier, the ACB-EOW teams had raided 12 premises in Sukma district on the premises of former MLA and CPI leader Manish Kunjam, forest department employee Rajshekhar Puranik, and several managers from Primary Minor Forest Produce Committees. During the raid, authorities seized Rs 26.63 lakh in cash from Puranik's residence.

The main accused in the case, DFO Ashok Kumar Patel, has been suspended over allegations of orchestrating a scam involving approximately Rs 7 crore—money that was intended as bonus payments for tribal tendu leaf collectors. Officials claim Patel and his associates colluded to misappropriate a large portion of the funds, depriving workers of their rightful share.

Prior to the Sukma operation, ACB-EOW teams also conducted related raids in Raigarh, Jagdalpur, Dantewada, and Bijapur. The investigation is ongoing, and officials are examining seized documents, digital records, and bank accounts.

Former legislator Manish Kunjam, whose residence was also raided, spoke to media in Sukma and said, "I was the one who raised concerns about irregularities in bonus distribution. Yet, my home was raided, and nothing incriminating was found. This is clearly an attempt to malign my image and protect the real culprits. Pressure and political vendetta are driving this action."

He further alleged that local BJP members from district and block-level panchayats had tried to pressure him, but he refused to comply, which may have triggered the retaliatory raid.

Officials in ACB and EOW have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, and more action may follow based on the material recovered during the raids.

Raipur: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) continued their crackdown for the second consecutive day in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, on the premises of forest department officials and tendu leaf managers in connection with the alleged embezzlement of tendu leaf bonus funds. On Friday, simultaneous raids were carried out at eight locations across four areas, including Sukma, Dornapal, and Konta.

The operation is part of an ongoing investigation into widespread corruption linked to the bonus payments meant for tendu leaf collectors during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

A day earlier, the ACB-EOW teams had raided 12 premises in Sukma district on the premises of former MLA and CPI leader Manish Kunjam, forest department employee Rajshekhar Puranik, and several managers from Primary Minor Forest Produce Committees. During the raid, authorities seized Rs 26.63 lakh in cash from Puranik's residence.

The main accused in the case, DFO Ashok Kumar Patel, has been suspended over allegations of orchestrating a scam involving approximately Rs 7 crore—money that was intended as bonus payments for tribal tendu leaf collectors. Officials claim Patel and his associates colluded to misappropriate a large portion of the funds, depriving workers of their rightful share.

Prior to the Sukma operation, ACB-EOW teams also conducted related raids in Raigarh, Jagdalpur, Dantewada, and Bijapur. The investigation is ongoing, and officials are examining seized documents, digital records, and bank accounts.

Former legislator Manish Kunjam, whose residence was also raided, spoke to media in Sukma and said, "I was the one who raised concerns about irregularities in bonus distribution. Yet, my home was raided, and nothing incriminating was found. This is clearly an attempt to malign my image and protect the real culprits. Pressure and political vendetta are driving this action."

He further alleged that local BJP members from district and block-level panchayats had tried to pressure him, but he refused to comply, which may have triggered the retaliatory raid.

Officials in ACB and EOW have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, and more action may follow based on the material recovered during the raids.