Janjgir-Champa police have registered a case of cheating and forgery against Congress MLA Baleshwar Sahu and one Gautam Rathore in connection with a major fraud linked to the Bamhani Deeh Cooperative Society. The FIR, lodged at Champa police station, invokes serious charges under Sections 420, 468, 467, 471 and 34 of the IPC, setting off political ripples in the district. According to police, the case relates to the period between 2015 and 2020 when Sahu was serving as manager of the cooperative society. During this tenure, allegations of large-scale financial irregularities came to light following a complaint filed two months ago by Rajkumar Sharma, a resident of Farsawani. In his statement, Sharma alleged that Sahu, along with Rathore, persuaded him to avail a Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loan against his 50-acre agricultural land. For this purpose, an account was opened in HDFC Bank Champa in Sharma’s name.

 

He said the accused took his blank cheque during the process and later used it to transfer Rs 24 lakh into the accounts of Sahu and his wife. The complaint further stated that over time, forged signatures and thumb impressions of Sharma, his mother Jaytin Sharma, and wife Neeta Sharma were used by the accused to withdraw additional amounts. In total, Rs 42.78 lakh was siphoned off from the complainant’s account through fraudulent withdrawal slips and manipulated banking documents. After a detailed verification of records, police concluded that offences of cheating, forgery, use of forged documents and conspiracy had prima facie been committed. Based on the findings, Champa police registered the case and initiated formal investigation. “The charges involve fraudulent withdrawals using forged cheques and thumb impressions. Documents are being examined to establish the chain of transactions,” a senior officer confirmed. The case has triggered sharp political reactions, with the opposition targeting the Congress leadership over the involvement of one of its legislators in such a grave financial offence.

 

BJP state spokesperson Amit Chimnani described the FIR as a damning indictment of the Congress party’s character. “It is disgraceful that an elected Congress MLA has now been accused of looting farmers through forgery and fraud. This is not an isolated act, but part of a criminal legacy that has made Congress synonymous with scams, loot and betrayal. The party is completely devoid of morality or nationalist vision, and one after another its leaders are being brought under the law’s glare,” Chimnani said. He added that the incident shattered the Congress claim of being a protector of cultivators. “It is shocking that a representative chosen by the people has instead preyed upon them. By duping farmers, Sahu has exposed the double standards of a party that pretends to champion agrarian causes while cheating them in reality. Such acts cannot be tolerated. Strictest action must be ensured against Sahu so that no public representative dares to repeat this betrayal of trust,” the BJP spokesperson asserted.