FIR against Chhattisgarh food inspector for emptying reservoir over phone

Apart from the food inspector Rajesh Kumar Vishwas, two irrigation department officials who allegedly complied with his request and pumped out 4.1 million litres of water are also named in FIR

Updated on: May 31, 2023, 22:46:19 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh police on Wednesday registered a case against three people including the food inspector accused of draining 4.1 million litres of water from a reservoir in Kanker district to retrieve a mobile phone he dropped into the tank while trying to take a selfie during a picnic with his friends.

The FIR for draining the reservoir was registered under Section 430 (mischief by injury to works of irrigation or by wrongfully diverting water) of the Indian Penal Code (File Photo)

Police said the first information report (FIR was registered under Section 430 (Mischief by injury to works of irrigation or by wrongfully diverting water) of the Indian Penal Code and started its investigation. Apart from Kanker district’s food inspector Rajesh Kumar Vishwas, the FIR also named sub-divisional officer (irrigation department) RL Diwar and Chhote Lal Dhivar, sub-engineer posted in Pakhanjur as co-accused

The offence is punishable with a jail term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.

The department on Tuesday ordered Vishwas to pay a ₹53,092 fine for draining the irrigation reservoir in Kanker in Chhattisgarh to retrieve a phone

On May 21, Vishwas’s mobile fell in the reservoir after which he drained the water for next three days to search his device. The matter came into light on May 26 after which he was suspended for wasting water in the peak of summer at Paralkot reservoir. The 4.1 million litres could have been used to irrigate around 40 hectares of land.

On May 26, the state’s irrigation department issued a letter stating that Vishwas drained out water using diesel pumps without seeking permission from the “competent authority”, which is illegal and comes under the category of punishment under the provision of the Chhattisgarh Irrigation Act.

“For his personal interest, Vishwas wasted 4,104 cubic metres of water (4.1 million litres) for which he has been asked to pay ₹43,092 as per the rate of ₹10.50 per cubic metre of water. A penalty of ₹10,000 has been imposed for evacuating water without seeking permission,” the letter added. HT has seen a copy of the letter signed by RL Dhivar, sub divisional officer ( water resources department).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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