FIR registered in sand, gravel transport scam

A significant financial scam involving the transportation of sand and gravel in Redli and Dana Ghato panchayats of Sangrah block has come to light, leading to the registration of an FIR at the Sangrah Police Station. The case, which involves the alleged misuse of government funds amounting to several lakhs of rupees, has raised serious concerns regarding corruption at the local level.

The scam was first exposed by Krishna Dutt Sharma, a resident of Redli panchayat, who obtained crucial information through the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Last month, Sharma had submitted a formal complaint to the Sirmaur SP, the Sangrah DSP and the Vigilance Department, highlighting discrepancies in the payments made for sand and gravel transportation.

Following his complaint, an FIR has now been registered, and Sharma has shared copies of both the RTI findings and the FIR with the media, further substantiating the allegations.

One of the most shocking revelations in the case is that the records of sand and gravel transportation include vehicle numbers of motorcycles, scooters, cars and even JCB machines. Official information obtained from the Regional Licensing Authority (RLA) Sangrah and Paonta Sahib, as well as the Regional Transport Office (RTO) Nahan, has confirmed these irregularities.

Further investigations indicate that payments were made to individuals who have no involvement in the sand and gravel business, and some of them do not even own vehicles. This has raised serious questions about the fraudulent utilisation of government funds.

Krishna Dutt Sharma has called for strict and impartial action against the panchayat representatives and other officials involved in the scam. He has urged authorities to ensure that those responsible for financial misconduct are held accountable.

In a statement to the media, Sharma also released a copy of the FIR registered at Sangrah Police Station. Meanwhile, a senior police official confirmed the filing of the FIR and assured that a thorough investigation was underway.

This case first came into the media spotlight last month when reports surfaced about sand and gravel being transported using two-wheelers and private cars. With the police investigation now in progress, all eyes are on the findings that will determine the extent of the scam and the legal consequences for those involved.