Former corporator Hemant Ostwal urges Collector to take suo motu action and order strict probe against officials and landowners
Published on: January 10, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
Rajnandgaon: Allegations of a major cover-up in illegal plotting cases near the Ram Darbar Temple and other parts of Rajnandgaon have surfaced, with former corporator and social activist Hemant Ostwal raising serious concerns over the role of certain municipal officials. Ostwal has written a detailed letter to the district Collector, calling for immediate and stringent action in the matter.
In his letter, Ostwal pointed out that while the district administration has repeatedly issued directives for strict action against illegal plotting, the actual implementation appears selective. He referred to the action taken on December 28, 2025, when bulldozers were used to demolish illegal plotting near Ram Darbar Temple across several khasra numbers, an operation that received wide media coverage.
However, Ostwal alleged that in contrast, in areas such as behind Ram Darbar Temple, Kaurin Bhata of Lakhooli Ward, Shanti Vijay Residence, and other localities, only token action was carried out. According to him, municipal officials and staff of the building department merely demolished drains, minor structures, or roads, while the real beneficiaries and landowners behind the illegal plotting were spared.
He further alleged that the names of the actual landowners involved in illegal plotting have neither been made public nor has any concrete action been initiated against them till date. Ostwal claimed that no notices have been issued to the concerned landowners and no FIRs have been registered, despite clear instructions from the Collector to conduct thorough investigations and take strict action.
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Calling the matter extremely serious, Ostwal stated that if such cases are being deliberately suppressed through financial dealings, it amounts to grave corruption. If not, then the administration must explain why no notices have been served to the illegal plotters even after ten days of the initial action.
Ostwal also remarked that Collector Jitendra Yadav enjoys a public image of being an honest, proactive, and impartial officer, and alleged that certain corrupt officials within the municipal corporation are attempting to tarnish his reputation through inaction and selective enforcement.
He demanded that the Collector take suo motu cognisance of the entire issue, order an impartial inquiry, and ensure registration of FIRs against both erring officials and landowners involved in illegal plotting. Ostwal emphasized that only decisive action would uphold the intent of the government and restore public confidence in the administration.
