In a staggering revelation, RTI activist Dr Dinesh Soni has disclosed a deliberate arson in the Mining Branch of Balrampur district, tribal-dominated Surguja division, aimed at obliterating evidence related to a colossal corruption scandal. On August 12, Dr Soni filed a formal complaint with the Surguja Divisional Commissioner, citing collusion between mining officials, clerks, contractors and crusher operators. According to the complaint, this group orchestrated a fire in the Mining Branch’s composite building, which houses critical documents, to erase incriminating evidence of fraudulent royalty clearances exceeding Rs 1,000 crore. The initial suspicions arose after Dr Soni sought information through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, specifically targeting illegal mining activities at the Mahamaya Crusher in Bheski village.

 

However, his attempts to obtain information were stonewalled, with officials repeatedly delaying or refusing to provide details. Finally, on 24th July, the Additional Collector ordered that the requested information be disclosed. This directive, if followed, would have exposed a widespread corruption network involving local contractors, crusher operators, and mining officials, all profiting from the misuse of royalty clearances. In this regard, a copy of the probe ordered by the Surguja Divisional Commissioner has been accessed by ‘The Hitavada’, revealing that the investigation centres on the intentional destruction of documents related to Rs 1,000 crore worth of fraudulent royalty clearances. The probe report points to a well-orchestrated plan in which sensitive documents were strategically placed near windows, making them easy targets for the arsonists.

 

This fire, which destroyed vital records, was set in a manner that allowed the culprits to evade detection, further cementing suspicions of an inside job within the Mining Branch. Dr Soni’s complaint highlighted that just days before the fire, sensitive documents related to royalty payments and pit passes were deliberately stored in vulnerable locations near windows, making them easy targets for the arson. The fire was set through these windows to ensure the destruction of key records without raising alarms.

 

Among the destroyed documents were those linked to over Rs 1000 crore in fraudulent royalty clearances—funds siphoned off through fake pit passes issued by the Mining Branch. These pit passes, meant to validate royalty payments, were forged and distributed with the knowledge and participation of mining officials and contractors. The Surguja Divisional Commissioner, in response to Dr Soni’s complaint, issued an investigation order on August 22. The Commissioner directed the Balrampur-Ramanujganj district authorities to conduct a thorough inquiry into the arson and the broader corruption scheme. The inquiry will focus on the apparent complicity of the Mining Branch’s officers, clerks, and employees in the destruction of evidence, with particular attention on the fraudulent issuance of pit passes and royalty clearances. The Commissioner’s order mandates a detailed report within 15 days. The depth of the corruption, as revealed by Dr Soni, is staggering.

 

The fraudulent pit passes were issued not only in Balrampur but also in other districts, with contractors and crusher operators funnelling clearance requests to Balrampur, where they could easily obtain forged documents. This illegal practice, which has been ongoing for years, inflicted severe financial damage on the state, costing the government over Rs 1,000 crore in lost revenue. In one instance, Rs 200 crore in fake royalty clearances were issued for projects in Surguja alone. The scandal also implicates high-ranking officials, including a former Additional Collector, identified as S S Paikra, who retired recently but is now under investigation for his role in the fraudulent activities. Dr Soni’s complaint points to systemic failures within the Mining Branch, where employees and officials collaborated to enable the illegal issuance of pit passes and shield contractors from scrutiny.

 

Despite clear evidence of corruption, many of these officials remained in their positions, allowing the fraud to continue unabated. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’ over phone on Thursday noon, Dr D K Soni argued, “One of the key questions under investigation is how mining officials, despite security measures in the building, were able to orchestrate the fire. The role of local clerks and other employees in safeguarding the fraudulent documents and facilitating the arson is a major focus of the ongoing probe.” He that without the involvement of these employees, it would have been impossible to carry out the arson unnoticed. “The probe will help scrutinise not only the arson but also the systemic corruption that allowed fraudulent royalty clearances and pit passes to be issued across multiple districts since the scale of the fraud is immense, with significant losses to the state’s exchequer,” he maintained.