IAS officer accused of graft, allegedly took money in CM’s name and partnered in project
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Bilaspur: A senior IAS officer stationed in Bilaspur is facing grave allegations of corruption, accused of accepting money in the name of the Chief Minister and becoming an undisclosed partner in a multi-crore tourism project. The tenders, issued in March this year, were for adventure water sports, trade and allied tourism activities in Gobind Sagar Lake region.
Grave allegations surface
The accusations were publicly raised by Gaurav Garg, an entrepreneur who participated in the tender process. Garg, who runs an adventure sports company specialising in water and aero sports, held a media briefing in Shimla, where he accused the IAS officer of using the Chief Minister’s name to solidify the corrupt dealings. This revelation has heightened the seriousness of the case, given the political connections.
IAS officer silent, minister promises probe
TNR reached out to the IAS officer and other individuals involved, but there has been no official response. However, when questioned about the allegations in his home district, Cabinet Minister Rajesh Dharmani assured the media that the matter would be thoroughly investigated.
Garg revealed further details, claiming that the IAS officer pressured him to form a joint venture with two other individuals, presented as close aides of the Chief Minister. “The officer insisted that these two individuals be made partners in my company. All the paperwork was done in his office and a notarised agreement was drawn up without my signature,” Garg claimed. He further alleged that the IAS officer is a major partner in the project and is now pressuring him either to quit the venture or to remain silent about the corruption.
Garg also alleged that a loan of Rs 2.30 crore was taken in the name of the joint venture, which was then used to purchase jet skis, motorboats, rescue boats and other equipment essential for the water sports business.
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Violation of water sports regulations
In a troubling revelation, Garg claimed that illegal activities occurred under the officer’s supervision. “According to regulations, no water sports are permitted in water bodies between July 15 and September 15. However, sales of equipment and activities continued during this restricted period,” Garg alleged.
Additionally, he claimed that without his consent, the joint venture secured a contract for LED display installations worth Rs 5 lakh per month. When objections were raised, his workforce was allegedly removed from the area with police protection, and threats were issued. Garg also accused the IAS officer of personally threatening him to stay quiet.
Cash bribes and lavish favours
Garg further alleged that the IAS officer accepted large cash bribes under the pretext of election funding for ruling politicians. “He visited a private property in Haryana with his family, where he accepted cash, enjoyed boat rides and stayed in luxury accommodations. I have photographs of these activities,” Garg said.
Garg said there was threat to his life and complaints regarding this were made through mail and even posts were made on CM’s X handle. According to Garg, the situation worsened when a junior IAS officer entered the scene, attempting to strike a deal. Multiple meetings were held across Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh to suppress the allegations and avoid public exposure of the corrupt practices.
Complaints filed, but action awaited
Garg revealed that formal complaints were submitted to the office of the Chief Minister and the Central Bureau of Investigation on September 16. However, no action has been taken so far. The involvement of high-ranking officials and their political connections casts a shadow over the administration, raising serious concerns about transparency and governance in the region.
