Chhattisgarh: Congress MLA Baleshwar Sahu Arrested in ₹42.78 Lakh Fraud Case Involving Farmer

Raipur, Chhattisgarh: Congress MLA Baleshwar Sahu from Jaijaipur has been sent to judicial custody in connection with a massive ₹42.78 lakh fraud case involving a local farmer. The court has remanded him in custody until 22 January 2026.

The case pertains to the period between 2015 and 2020 when Sahu was a manager at Bamhani Deeh Cooperative Bank, and his associate Gautam Rathore was working as a vendor. The two allegedly misled farmer Rajkumar Sharma by promising a loan through a Farmer Credit Card scheme. They obtained ten blank cheques and opened two new accounts in HDFC Bank in the farmer’s name. Using forged signatures and thumb impressions, they gradually siphoned off ₹42.78 lakh from the farmer’s accounts, starting with an initial withdrawal of ₹51,000 on 15 January 2015.

Sahu is also accused of transferring ₹7.5 lakh to his wife Asha Sahu’s account. The fraud came to light in 2020 when the farmer received a call from HDFC Bank, Chhampa branch, asking if he had authorized Sahu to withdraw funds. Upon inquiry, the farmer discovered the fraudulent transactions and contacted Sahu, who initially promised to return the full amount with interest within six months—an assurance that was never fulfilled.

Alleged Use of Funds for Election Expenses
According to the farmer, during the intervening period, Sahu’s associate Gautam Rathore claimed that the misappropriated funds were used for election expenses. Repeated demands for repayment were met with evasions, prompting Rajkumar Sharma to file a formal complaint with Chhampa police on 14 August 2025.

Police Investigation and FIR
Following the complaint, police recorded statements from the farmer, his wife, and his mother, all confirming that they had not authorized any withdrawals. Statements from five bank employees and other witnesses were also taken. Investigations revealed that a withdrawal slip dated 24 January 2020 contained Sahu’s mobile number, confirming his direct involvement.

Based on the evidence, Chhampa police filed an FIR on 3 October 2025 against Sahu and Rathore under Sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery of documents), 467 (fraudulent use of official documents), and 34 (common intention) of the IPC.

High Court Stay and Subsequent Arrest
Earlier, Sahu had approached the High Court to avoid arrest. On 4 November 2025, the court allowed him to cooperate with the investigation without police detention and directed that the charge sheet be filed in the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s (CJM) court. On 7 January 2026, Chhampa police issued a notice to Sahu, asking him to appear in court on 9 January.

During the hearing before CJM Praveen Mishra, Sahu’s plea for bail was rejected, and he was remanded to judicial custody until 22 January 2026. His associate, Gautam Rathore, remains out on bail.