Sourabh Sood
Dharamshala: A day before the winter session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly begins in Tapovan, senior BJP leader and former Industries Minister Bikram Thakur triggered a major political storm on Tuesday. Addressing a press conference in Dharamshala, Thakur levelled eight serious corruption allegations directly targeting Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Congress in-charge Rajni Patil, and key officials associated with finance, industries, excise and education departments.
Thakur alleged that a senior CMO officer acts as “Mr 1%”, claiming that this official allegedly seeks a 1% commission on every payment cleared through the state treasury. The charge, coming just before the Assembly session, has intensified the political rift between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP.
When The Newz Radar asked the former minister whether he had documentary evidence to support these allegations, Thakur asserted that he possessed “solid proof and complete factual details” of the cases. This has raised an important question in political circles: Are central agencies sharing such inputs with BJP leaders?
Allegations of Industry Flight, Land Deals and Tender Manipulation
Thakur accused the Sukhu government of driving industries out of the state, selling land through backdoor methods and manipulating tender rates during its three-year tenure. He contrasted this with the BJP government’s 2019 Global Investors’ Meet in Dharamshala, claiming that the Congress government “could not organise even a single investors’ meet” and that the state’s Single Window system is nearly defunct.
Thakur alleged that under government protection, massive corruption took place in Nalaghar, Baddi and Paonta Sahib, where industrial land was illegally converted for hotel and commercial use.
He cited complaints that a 150-bigha land case in Nalagarh alone involved dealings worth ₹16 crore, adding that CLU (Change of Land Use) cannot occur without the Revenue Department’s sanction. “Who authorised these conversions?” he asked.
Outsourcing Scam in HPSEDC: ‘Favouritism, Exploitation of Youth’
The BJP leader hit out at alleged corruption in HPSEDC outsourcing, accusing the government of favouring select companies—NUVISION, ALAKH and CHAWLA DIGITAL to influence postings and recruitment. He said the government bypassed High Court orders and funnelled crores of rupees through preferred firms while job-seeking youth were exploited.
“Why is the Chief Minister silent on this?” he asked.
Bulk Drug Park Scam: ‘Proxy Company Grabbed ₹250-Crore Tender’
Thakur termed the ₹250-crore Bulk Drug Park project a “fully rigged tender”, alleging that a proxy company bagged the entire contract using the name of CEIGALL. He claimed the evaluation committee’s objections were dismissed under political pressure and that two ministers were directly involved.
“This project was meant to generate 10,000 jobs for Himachal’s youth, but the government turned it into a commission racket,” he said.
Education Procurement Scam and Excise ‘Extortion’
The BJP leader also highlighted a ₹150-crore procurement scam in the Education Department, alleging that friendly firms connected to Chinar Group and Chawla Digital were awarded multiple tenders. He even alleged that part of this money was diverted toward election activity.
In the Excise Department, he accused officials of collecting illegal payments from bottling plants and allowing four trucks of illicit liquor to be moved out regularly under “government protection”.
Thakur further alleged manipulation in the tendering process for the Shimla Ropeway Project, this time linking Congress in-charge Rajni Patil to the controversy and alleging direct interference from the CMO.
“Stop Blaming BJP— See the Fire in Your Own House”
Concluding his explosive presser, Thakur said:
“Before accusing the BJP every day, the Chief Minister should look at the fire raging in his own house. From Dharamshala, I am asking eight direct questions. The people of Himachal Pradesh deserve answers.”
