A suspended Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer has alleged that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's favourites have 'benami' properties worth billions.
The suspended female IAS officer, Shashi Karnawat, has written a formal complaint to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is an anti-Dalit and that his favourite Ministers have 'benami' properties worth billions.
Supporting Modi's drive against black money, 'benami' properties and corruption, the Dalit IAS officer said in her letter, "Ministers close to Shivraj have acquired many 'benami' properties during the years because of their status in the Government and the large-scale corruption happening in Madhya Pradesh."
She has written in her complaint that while the Chief Minister is protecting such Ministers, the Dalit officers are being mistreated. She also mentioned the instance of Dalit IAS officer Ramesh Thete being discriminated against and mistreated by Principal Secretary RS Julania.
In the letter, Karnawat also mentioned instances of mistreatment allegedly meted out to her. "The Chief Minister leveled false charges against me and even called his favourite Ministers to give false evidence. When I protested, they assured me that justice would be granted but instead suspended me from office."
Calling Chouhan 'anti-Dalit', she wrote that due to the abuse being faced by Dalits, the BJP is being seen as an anti-Dalit party. Karnawat also sought ordering of CBI raids and investigations into the matter of 'benami' properties in the State.
Notably, Karnawat was suspended in 2013 after she was sentenced to five years in jail by the Mandla district court in a corruption case (zila panchayat printing scam of 1999-2000). At the time of suspension, she was a Deputy Secretary in the Youth and Sports Welfare Department.