Corruption Scandal Rocks Himachal: CM’s Trusted Aides Involved

Shimla, July 9, 2024: Himachal Pradesh is in turmoil as Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s close associates, Gyan Chand and Prabhat Chand, are implicated in a multi-crore corruption scandal. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax Department have discovered incriminating documents against the CM’s trusted business allies, suggesting open favoritism by the Sukhu government, resulting in significant financial losses to the state treasury.

The ED investigation has uncovered evidence of large-scale illegal mining, including cash transactions, over ₹8 crore deposited into a single account, and cash use in land deals. Gyan Chand and his family have secured multiple mid-level tenders from the state government for road construction under benami names. The ongoing investigations into tax, liquor, and civil contractors in Himachal Pradesh reveal that Prabhat Chand is handling large cash transactions and unaccounted dealings for CM Sukhu and his relatives through his son-in-law Saurabh Katoch and Ajay Kumar. An implicated firm is APR Construction Company.