A CBI court in Ranchi dropped a major hammer on Wednesday, officially framing charges against BJP MLA Satyendranath Tiwari from Garhwa in Jharkhand’s notorious 22-year bitumen scam. As ex-director of Kalawati Construction, Tiwari is now set to face trial over allegations of multimillion-rupee fraud.
Drawing from IPC sections and the Prevention of Corruption Act, the court rejected Tiwari’s innocence plea and mandated CBI to roll out evidence presentation on February 20. The fraud traces to 2003-04, when bitumen supply for roads turned into a cesspool of fake billing.
Investigators uncovered that 61 of 114 challans were pure fiction, pocketing Rs 2.23 crore illicitly. Tiwari allegedly led the charge in this scheme, conspiring to bleed public coffers dry.
Despite his discharge application, the bench found compelling prima facie proof demanding judicial scrutiny. Hearings will kick off with witness statements, promising intense courtroom drama.
This case underscores persistent challenges in tackling legacy corruption in India’s infrastructure sector. For Tiwari, it poses a direct threat to his legislative career amid rising political heat. Jharkhand’s anti-graft drive gains momentum as old skeletons tumble out.
Stakeholders await how the trial unfolds, potentially setting precedents for similar dormant cases. The ruling reaffirms the long arm of law, proving time doesn’t erase accountability for economic offenses.