A sum of Rs 72 lakh has managed to unite the Opposition in Madhya Pradesh. They are together seeking the resignation of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the alleged dumper scam. Chouhan’s family no longer owns the four dumper trucks bought in the name of his wife Sadhna Singh. The Rewa-based industrial group purchased the dumpers when the Bharatiya Janshakti first raised the issue. However, the change of ownership did not help as the Opposition continues to press for Chouhan’s resignation saying till he was there a fair probe was not possible. Chouhan has been accused of favouring the industrial group in awarding mining leases and, in lieu of the largesse, seeking favours like renting out dumpers.Interestingly, Chouhan’s predecessor Babulal Gaur accepted that dumpers owned by his family have been rented out to the same company. Similar admission has come from HRD Minister Arjun Singh’s son and Churhat MLA Ajay Singh. In their defence, they claim their papers are in order and no one could be prevented from doing business for “livelihood”.Chouhan also came up with a similar argument saying his wife ran a transport agency for livelihood. But, he had initially denied ownership. He later clarified that he had arranged for the margin money of Rs 7 lakh and the remainder was financed by Tata Finance.Records of Rewa RTO office identify Sadhna Singh’s husband as S R Singh and mentions her address only as J P Nagar. Former chief minister Digvijay Singh said irregularities like furnishing incomplete address amount to fraud and conspiracy and hence is punishable under the law.A special court that deals with cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act has already directed the Special Police Establishment of Lokayukta to register an FIR in the case. J P Associates Director Sunny Gaur (also a member of the Bharat Bhavan Trust) and the Principal Secretary (Mining) have also been named in the FIR. The Opposition claims it is first of its kind FIR against any sitting Chief Minister.Digvijay Singh has alleged that the Chouhan family owned more than four dumpers but hasn’t come out with any documents despite promising to do so at an early date. The Bharatiya Janshakti had threatened to expose leaders from both the Congress and the BJP who had rented out vehicles.The Congress, which sensed an opportunity in the issue to remove a chief minister, has already knocked the doors of the Supreme Court on the issue and filed a caveat in the Madhya Pradesh High Court immediately after the special court’s order to register an FIR in the case.Chouhan and his legal advisors think they are on a solid ground in the case and haven’t challenged the special court’s decision in the high court despite getting the brief ready. While everyone is waiting for the special court’s decision — it has asked the special police establishment to submit the probe report by December 12 — the issue brought an abrupt end to the Winter Session of the Assembly. For some strange reasons, the Opposition did not want debate on the adjournment motion it moved on the issue and also postponed tabling the no-confidence motion it was planning for two months.
