MLA aides dig up new road in Shahjahanpur after contractor refused to pay 'Goonda Tax'

In a shocking incident in Shahjahanpur, a brand-new 7-km road was dug by miscreants, who claim to be associated with the local MLA, using heavy machinery. They also assaulted workers and set machines ablaze, all in response to the contractor's refusal to pay a "goonda tax", a TOI report stated.

The contractor, Shakuntala Singh, based in Gorakhpur, alleges that the troublemaker behind this destruction is Jagveer Singh, who identifies himself as "the local MLA's representative." It is Jagveer Singh who obstructed the ongoing construction and inflicted significant damage to public property. In response to this, District Magistrate Umesh Singh has initiated a thorough inquiry.

An anonymous police source told TOI, "The main accused, Singh, is frequently seen in the company of the MLA." The source further disclosed, "The budget allocated for this road construction amounted to Rs 12 crore, and a local politician was demanding a substantial commission for it." Jagveer Singh, along with 15-20 unidentified individuals, has been booked under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and various relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.


The District Magistrate, Umesh Singh, firmly stated, "We will not tolerate such acts of vandalism. An FIR has been filed, and while three individuals have been apprehended, the primary accused, Jagveer, remains at large."

In response to these allegations, the local MLA provided a statement to TOI, saying, "I raised concerns about the quality of materials used in the road construction by the contractor. It is possible that he deliberately damaged the road himself and filed an FIR to claim insurance."