Sukhu on ‘Rs 25-crore graft’ letter: ‘BJP MLA sought my forgiveness and I’ve forgiven him’

BJP MLA from Bharmour says 'why should I plead with him when I didn't do any wrong?'

The BJP had levelled allegations of corruption against the Suku government saying that an anonymous letter was sent to the Prime Minister's Office mentioning the alleged bribe of Rs 25 crore for favouring a private company. (File Image)

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Thursday rejected all corruption-related allegations during the discussion initiated under Rule 62 as the Opposition under the Leader of Opposition (LOP) Jai Ram Thakur walked out of the House.

Responding to the allegation pertaining to an anonymous letter mentioning alleged graft of Rs 25 crore, Sukhu informed the House, “An FIR was lodged in this connection. The name of BJP MLA Janak Raj from Bharmour came to light during the course of investigation. He came to me and claimed he doesn’t know how a picture of the letter was clicked from his office in Bharmour. The picture was clicked by one of the supporters called Manoj Kumar Sharma. He sought my forgiveness and I have forgiven him. But as his own party raised this issue, I have to clear my position. That letter was only to malign the image of the CM’s office and government.”

The BJP had levelled allegations of corruption against the Suku government saying that an anonymous letter was sent to the Prime Minister’s Office mentioning the alleged bribe of Rs 25 crore for favouring a private company.

However, when contacted, first-time MLA Janak Raj rejected the CM’s claim that he had sought the CM’s forgiveness. “Why should I plead with him when I didn’t do any wrong? I will raise this issue in the House tomorrow. I wanted to raise an objection in the House today but was not allowed. I will speak on this issue in the House tomorrow. The anonymous letter was received in my office by post. One of my supporters had clicked a picture of that letter from my office but without my knowledge,” Janak Raj told The Indian Express.

Responding to the allegations of the Opposition that certain close people of CM were recently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for illegal mining, the CM informed the House, “Everybody knows that a person named Gyan Chand is a businessman. During Assembly elections, he supports me and during parliamentary elections, he supports the sitting Member of Parliament. Another person arrested by the ED is also a supporter of BJP MLA. I have been in political life for the last three decades. There is not a single allegation against my image. Law will take its own course.”

Clarifying his government’s stand on one-time settlement (OTS) policy under which a loan of crores of rupees of Congress leader Satpal Raizada was waived off by the Kangra Co-operative Bank, Sukhu said, “OTS rules are framed by the Reserve Bank of India. Satpal Raizada was not the only one whose loan was waived off. Raizada was among around 7,000 people who benefited through OTS.”

The CM also attacked BJP Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan in the House, mentioning that he was the chairman of Kangra Co-operative Bank between 2013-17. Later, he quit the Congress and joined the BJP. “When Harsh Mahajan was the chairman of Kangra Co-operative Bank, BJP had levelled allegations of tampering of records against him. Jai Ram Thakur came to power and ordered a vigilance probe. The man joined BJP and within a few days, CM Jai Ram Thakur’s government gave him a clean chit,” Sukhu said.

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The opposition leaders walked out of the House when CM Sukhu started speaking on the excise policy scam alleged by BJP MLA Randhir Sharma. As the CM said that his government has earned a revenue of Rs 600 crore through the new excise policy, the Opposition shouted slogans that he is misleading the House.

At the outset of the second day of inter session, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania urged CM Sukhu and LoP Jai Ram Thakur to first initiate the business of the House including the question hour, discussion on the introduced bills while deferring the discussion on corruption for the time being. However, the LoP preferred to continue the discussion.

During his address to the House, Jai Ram Thakur said, “The government always misunderstood the opposition. We didn’t call the memorandum submitted to the Governor over corruption a chargesheet but named it kachcha-chitha. We are warning the government and giving you time to correct yourself. Why are tainted officers continuing in your government?”

Jai Ram Thakur also commented on Sukhu mentioning investigation over missing samosas, registration of FIR over junglee murga and toilet tax. He said, “The opposition is not making these issues on its own but your government has been making these issues.”

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After hearing Sukhu, however, the Speaker rejected the issue of corruption brought under Rule 62 in the House.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

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