Former mandi chairperson face blackmailing charges

RUDRAPUR: The former chairperson of Krishi Utpadan Mandi Samiti, Baldev Raj Chhabra, who had made extortion charges on five employees of the organisation is now facing counter-charges of blackmailing by the alleged offenders. Chhabra had handed over a CD, having a recording of the five officials extorting money from truck drivers, nearly three months back to higher authorities of the samiti.He had also informed the then agriculture minister Harak Singh Rawat and the state governor.
Investigation officer BS Chalaal, who is also the samiti’s director, was told that Chhabra had forcibly shot the video and presurised the five officials, which included four inspectors and a secretary, to confess to their crimes. The offenders also raised questions about Chhabra’s late hand-over of the CD to samiti authorities. Chalaal said that the five employees have made serious allegations of blackmailing by Chhabra for nearly a month and when they refused to give in to his demands, the forged CD was handed over to higher authorities
Meanwhile, Chhabra told TOI that he recorded these visuals after complaints were received from local farmers. “All the five accused were suspended by the managing director of the samiti, DS Garbyal, and an enquiry committee was formed by him to investigate the matter,” he said.