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Chhattisgarh Congress MLA arrested in cheating case, party calls it BJP ‘conspiracy’

Jaijaipur MLA Baleshwar Sahu was sent to judicial custody until January 22

Baleshwar Sahu arrested in cheating case, Chhattisgarh Congress MLA arrested in cheating case, Congress MLA arrested in cheating case, Congress MLA cheating case, Raipur, Chhattisgarh Congress, Baleshwar Sahu, Indian express news, current affairsAn FIR has been registered against the duo under IPC Sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and 34 (common intention).

Congress MLA from Chhattisgarh’s Jaijaipur constituency Baleshwar Sahu was arrested on Friday in a cheating and forgery case and sent to judicial custody till January 22 after a CJM court rejected his bail plea. 

The complainant, Raj Kumar Sharma, a resident of Parsa Pali, alleged that the MLA and one Gautam Rathore cheated him of Rs 42.78 lakh between 2015 and 2020, when Sahu was serving as the manager of a co-operative society in Bamhnidih and Rathore was a sales agent.

Sharma in his complaint said the duo advised him to take a Kisan Credit Card (KCC)  loan against his 50 acres of land and under this pretext, they facilitated opening an account for him at a private bank in Champa. They allegedly took blank cheques from Sharma, and Sahu transferred Rs 24 lakh into his own account. According to Sharma, the duo also forged his signature and thumbprint and illegally withdrew a total of Rs 42,78,000. 

Based on Sharma’s complaint on October 3 last year, an FIR under IPC sections for cheating and forgery was registered at Champa police station against Sahu and Rathore.

“Upon investigation, the allegations were found to be true,” said Vijay Pandey, Superintendent of Police, Janjgir-Champa district.

“After accepting the chargesheet, the honorable magistrate court issued a jail warrant. Subsequently, the accused (Sahu) filed an application for regular bail in the same court, which was rejected. We took him for a medical test and then he was sent to judicial custody,” the SP said.

An FIR has been registered against the duo under IPC Sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and 34 (common intention).

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Reacting to the development, Congress’s communications head for Chhattisgarh Sushil Anand Shukla said: “The BJP has hatched a conspiracy and booked our MLA. We have full faith in the judiciary and we believe he will be acquitted of all charges.”

Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More

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