Janjgir Champa, Chhattisgarh | January 9, 2026

A Congress MLA from Chhattisgarh, Baleshwar Sahu, was arrested on Friday in connection with a cheating and fraud case in Janjgir Champa district. Police allege that Sahu, who represents the Jaijaipur constituency, along with an accomplice, cheated a local farmer of nearly ₹47 lakh through fraudulent financial transactions.

According to the police, the alleged offence took place between 2015 and 2020, when Sahu was serving as the manager of the District Cooperative Society in Bamhnidih. During this period, he reportedly advised the complainant, Ram Kumar Sharma, to avail a Kisan Credit Card loan against his 50 acres of land. An account was opened in the farmer’s name at an HDFC Bank branch in Champa, after which Sahu allegedly obtained a blank cheque from him.

Investigators claim that the accused transferred ₹24 lakh into his own account and his wife’s account using the cheque. Police further alleged that forged signatures and thumb impressions of the farmer were used to withdraw a total amount of ₹42.78 lakh from the account. The fraud came to light after the farmer lodged a complaint, prompting a detailed investigation.

Police said that after collecting evidence, charges were found to be established against MLA Baleshwar Sahu and co-accused Gautam Rathore. A chargesheet was filed in court on January 9, 2026. Following the court taking cognisance of the case, a jail warrant was issued. Sahu’s application for regular bail was subsequently rejected, leading to his arrest.

 Congress MLA Held in ₹47 Lakh Farmer Cheating Case in Chhattisgarh

A Congress MLA from Chhattisgarh, Baleshwar Sahu, was taken into custody on Friday in connection with an alleged cheating case involving a farmer in Janjgir Champa district. Police claim that Sahu, the Jaijaipur constituency representative, along with another accused, fraudulently siphoned off around ₹47 lakh from the victim.

According to the investigation, the alleged fraud occurred between 2015 and 2020, when Sahu was working as the manager of the District Cooperative Society in Bamhnidih. Police said he persuaded farmer Ram Kumar Sharma to take a Kisan Credit Card loan against his agricultural land and later secured access to his bank account at an HDFC Bank branch in Champa.

Officials allege that using a blank cheque and forged signatures, large sums were transferred to the MLA’s personal account and that of his wife. The total amount withdrawn through these transactions is stated to be ₹42.78 lakh, causing significant financial loss to the farmer.

After completing the probe, police filed a chargesheet in court on January 9. The court took cognisance of the case and issued a jail warrant. Sahu’s plea for regular bail was rejected, following which he was arrested.