ED Arrests Jai Prakash Gandhi in Bharatmala Highway Land Acquisition Compensation Fraud Case

Raipur. Asal Baat news.   Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Raipur Zonal Office, has arrested Jai Prakash Gandhi, resident of Abhanpur, Distr...

Also Read

Raipur.

Asal Baat news.  

Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Raipur Zonal Office, has arrested Jai Prakash Gandhi, resident of Abhanpur, District Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on 03.06.2026 under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with the Bharatmala Highway Land Acquisition Compensation Fraud case.

ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR registered by the ACB/EOW, Chhattisgarh, relating to large-scale irregularities and fraud in the disbursement of compensation for land acquired under the Raipur–Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor project under Bharatmala Pariyojana.

ED investigation revealed that Jai Prakash Gandhi, in connivance with his family members and certain public servants, had acquired land falling within the notified highway alignment and subsequently fragmented the same into parcels measuring less than 500 square metres.

The fragmentation was allegedly carried out with the sole intention of claiming enhanced compensation from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).It has been further revealed that by adopting the aforesaid fraudulent modus operandi, the accused and his family members received compensation amounting to approximately Rs. 9.83 Crore against a legitimately payable amount of only Rs. 56.76 Lakh, thereby generating Proceeds of Crime of approximately Rs. 9.27 Crore. Investigation has further revealed that the Proceeds of Crime were subsequently layered and integrated through investments in shares, mutual funds and other financial instruments.

Earlier, ED had conducted search operations in the case on 28.04.2026 at various premises in Raipur, Abhanpur and Dhamtari districts, during which incriminating documents, digital devices and other evidences relating to the fraudulent acquisition of compensation were recovered and seized.

The arrested accused was produced before the Hon'ble Special Court (PMLA), Raipur, which has granted ED custody of the accused for three days.Investigation in the matter is continuing and the role of other beneficiaries, intermediaries 

and public servants involved in the conspiracy is under examination.