A senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Chhattisgarh has reportedly been defrauded of ₹41.30 lakh by two individuals who promised to secure him the post of Chairman of the Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation. The accused, including a woman from Maharashtra and her accomplice from Chhattisgarh, are currently absconding, police said.
According to the FIR lodged at the Keshkal police station in Kondagaon district, Santosh Kataria—a veteran BJP leader and core group member who earlier served as North Bastar district president during undivided Madhya Pradesh—was approached by a woman identified as Kajal Joshi alias Komal Ingule, a resident of Nagpur and Delhi. Joshi claimed close connections with senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders and ministers in the Chhattisgarh government, and allegedly demanded ₹3 crore in exchange for facilitating his appointment to the post.
Kataria told police that he initially paid ₹20 lakh in cash in Delhi, followed by ₹1.3 lakh via an online QR code transaction. Later, he handed over another ₹20 lakh in cash at a hotel in Raipur, where Joshi was accompanied by co-accused Rajeev Soni, a resident of Chhattisgarh.
The fraud came to light after Kataria’s name did not appear in the recently announced list of appointments to boards and corporations. Following his own inquiries, he discovered the deception and filed a police complaint, submitting mobile numbers and other supporting evidence.
The case has been registered under Sections 3(5) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Police have launched a search operation to trace the two accused, who remain on the run.
The incident has gained wider attention following the circulation of a video of Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Vijay Sharma, in which he urged citizens to remain cautious of individuals claiming political influence.
“Anyone asking for money by misusing photos with leaders or promising jobs must be reported immediately. The government will not tolerate such fraud,” Sharma stated firmly.