Congress leader demands action; sitting pradhan alleges vendetta
Munish Sood
SOLAN: A startling case of alleged large-scale corruption has surfaced in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district, exposing glaring anomalies in mining transportation and MGNREGA-related expenditures in the Malenhani panchayat of Nalagarh subdivision.
The revelations emerged following a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by former panchayat pradhan Bagga Ram, who alleged that official records show mining materials being transported using highly improbable means, including motorcycles and high-end car like BMWs and also Maruti Swifts.
Impossible logistics: 300 feet of sand on a bike?
According to Bagga Ram, the RTI response revealed absurd entries in official documents.
In one instance, a motorcycle was shown transporting 300 cubic feet of sand, a feat that is logistically impossible. Similarly, luxury cars, which are neither registered nor designed for transporting construction materials, were allegedly listed in bills as vehicles used for hauling mined resources.
“Such entries defy common sense and expose the depth of corruption within the local governance system,” said Bagga Ram. He further alleged that a single vendor was repeatedly awarded tenders, and the same suspicious vehicle numbers kept appearing in billing documents. A formal complaint has been lodged with the Block Development Officer (BDO), Nalagarh, along with a warning that the matter will be taken to the High Court if timely action is not initiated.
Violations under MGNREGA norms
The former pradhan also raised concerns over the manner in which MGNREGA projects were executed. “Work that should have involved manual labour was largely completed using machines, in clear violation of scheme guidelines,” Bagga Ram alleged. He also pointed out the absence of key financial records such as sanctioned amounts and Measurement Book (MB) entries, suggesting possible manipulation of project documentation.
Political pressure mounts: Congress demands action
The allegations have sparked political reactions across the region. Anmol Rana, vice-president of the Nalagarh Congress unit, described the incident as “shocking but not isolated.”
Rana has demanded the immediate suspension of the panchayat pradhan and secretary, urging the district administration and local MLA to take swift action to prevent recurrence of such fraudulent practices.
Pradhan calls it a politically motivated conspiracy
Responding to the charges, panchayat pradhan Salig Ram has rejected all allegations, terming them a politically motivated conspiracy. “All transportation was done using tractors. No car or motorcycle was ever involved in the movement of sand or mining material,” he asserted.
Turning the tables, Salig Ram accused Bagga Ram of financial misconduct during his own term. “In 2016, when his wife served as the pradhan, funds amounting to Rs 14 lakh under MGNREGA were allegedly misappropriated and cheques were deposited into a personal account,” he claimed, adding that he had also approached the BDO with a formal complaint seeking investigation against Bagga Ram.
