Published on: April 5, 2025
By: [BTI]
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
A major controversy has erupted in Chhattisgarh after former councillor Hemant Ostwal penned a letter to top Congress leaders questioning the silence of local party MLAs over a large-scale seizure of illicit liquor and counterfeit holograms. The seizure, made on March 29, 2025, from a farmhouse in Karwari village under Dongargarh police station, has raised concerns over political inaction and alleged administrative complicity.
In his letter addressed to Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee President Deepak Baij, Congress General Secretary Sachin Pilot, and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Ostwal demanded immediate intervention and a high-level probe into the matter. The farmhouse, reportedly owned by Rohit Netam alias Sonu, was found storing illegal liquor allegedly brought in from Madhya Pradesh, along with fake holograms and stickers — indicating a well-organized racket.
“What is deeply disturbing,” Ostwal wrote, “is that despite five of the eight MLAs in the undivided Rajnandgaon district being from the Congress, and some of them being senior leaders, there has been complete silence on this serious issue. Even the local MLA from Dongargarh, Harshita Swami, has not raised her voice.”
Ostwal emphasized that while the Congress party is currently in the opposition in Chhattisgarh, this does not absolve its representatives of the responsibility to raise public interest issues. He lauded the efforts of District Rural Congress President Bhagwat Sahu and his team, who addressed the issue via a press conference, but pointed out that more proactive leadership is needed from elected legislators.
Drawing parallels with the previous Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government, Ostwal reminded party leaders that several individuals, including IAS officers and liquor contractors, were arrested in similar fake hologram scams. “If the EOW could investigate such cases under Congress rule, the same standards must apply now,” he said, calling for a comprehensive investigation by the Economic Offences Wing into the current incident.
Ostwal further raised questions about the alleged role of the Excise Department and local police. “The farmhouse where the illegal activity was taking place is just five kilometers from the nearest police station. It is hard to believe that such large-scale operations could continue without the knowledge or involvement of officials,” he added. He claimed that Netam has nearly 19 prior complaints registered against him, yet managed to run this racket under apparent protection.
He warned that the issue was not just about law enforcement, but about revenue loss running into crores, public health concerns, and the erosion of public trust. Ostwal demanded that all officers involved in negligence or complicity be booked under criminal charges.
In a direct appeal to Sachin Pilot, Ostwal urged him to personally visit Raipur and take the lead in addressing the matter. “This issue is not just political, it is moral and public in nature. The Congress must not be seen as complicit through inaction,” he stated.
Concluding his letter, Ostwal stressed that the party’s credibility was at stake. “Remaining silent in the face of such large-scale corruption damages the Congress more than anything else. The people are watching. It’s time to act.”
