‘Premium land for low value land’ : Congress leaders accuse Chhattisgarh government of giving undue benefits to minister’s wife

The opposition Congress on Thursday accused the Vishnu Deo Sai government of giving undue benefits to the wife of state minister Kedar Kashyap through a city development plan in state capital Raipur. Demanding a probe into procedural lapses, the party alleged that Radhika Palace Private Limited – in which Mr Kashyap’s wife Shanti serves as a director – was allotted a commercial plot in a prime area in exchange for a plot of much lower value.

While the minister was not available for comment, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed the allegations as baseless and the Raipur Development Authority (RDA) maintained that the allotment was done as per the rules.

Under the MR-43 Urban Development Plan, a provision was made for the RDA to acquire the original land from the land owners and in return return 40% of the land to them after the proposed development.

At a press conference held at the PCC headquarters here, Congress leaders Rakesh Gupta and Shreekumar Shankar Menon claimed that the RDA website shows a plot measuring around 23,327 square feet – to be allotted in exchange for the original plot (OL) owned by Radhika Palace Private Limited measuring around 1.33 acres.

Mr. Gupta said the value of the land that was acquired was limited to just a few crores of rupees as it “is located on a narrow road in Nalapara Basti, Kachna”. “In contrast, the land provided by the exchange is located on a 45-metre (150 ft) wide road (MR-43) near Saddu Chowk on Baloda Bazar Road (although the clarification issued by the RDA regarding the urban development scheme describes it as ‘proposed’). Once the construction of the road is complete, the value of this land will exceed ₹20 crore.

Mr. Gupta also pointed out that the distance between the final plot and the OL was also large, indicating violation of rules. He said that as per the provisions of the Chhattisgarh Town and Country Planning Act, 1973, the land area returned to the owner after the said development must be the final plot adjoining the original plot, which was not the case with the subject exchange. “It is not permissible for the original land to be in one place and the final land to be in another. However, there was undoubtedly corruption, with the rules being broken in favor of a company owned by the wife of the minister in question,” he said.

Congress leaders have sought Mr. Kashyap’s resignation and a detailed inquiry into the matter. The Hindu sent a query to the minister, but he did not respond by 9:00 p.m.

RDA Vice-Chairman JP Sharma clarified that the allotment was done as per regulations. To locate the plot outside the original plot, he said the relocation of the plots was necessary to ensure compliance with the NGT guidelines. “As per NGT guidelines, development activities are prohibited in areas with water resources, which must be maintained in their existing condition. Therefore, the affected land owners have been relocated and the land allotted elsewhere,” he said.

BJP spokesperson Shivnarayan Pandey dismissed the allegations as baseless and disputed the award figures projected by Congress leaders at a press conference. He said it is common knowledge that there are two approaches: one involves acquiring land with cash compensation, while the other involves developing the land and returning 40% to the original owner, with the rest being used for development projects. “When a land is developed, its total area naturally decreases, but its valuation goes up because infrastructure is built there – and they factored that into the valuation. One wonders what land deals Congress people are involved in; they put the valuation at ₹20 crore,” he said.

Published – 02 Oct 2026 01:50 IST