₹9 crore tax evasion through 16 buses in Jabalpur:Economic Offences Wing registers FIR; transport department clerk named alongside bus owner

The Economic Offences Wing Jabalpur has taken major action in a passenger bus tax evasion case, registering an FIR against bus owners and a transport department employee on Thursday night. The case pertains to an alleged financial loss of approximately ₹9 crore to the state exchequer. The EOW has filed a case under Sections 318(4), 61(2) and 238(C) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Section 7(C) of the relevant anti-corruption provisions. Those named include bus operators Sanjay Keshwani and Sadhna Keshwani of Dindori district, and clerk Pushp Kumar Pradhan, who was posted at the Dindori District Transport Office and is currently serving in Narsinghpur. A detailed investigation has commenced, with further disclosures expected in the coming days. Complaint from Bhopal triggered probe According to officials, the EOW received a complaint from Bhopal alleging that, despite substantial tax arrears on passenger buses registered in the names of Sanjay and Sadhna Keshwani, permits and fitness certificates were still being issued. The subsequent inquiry found that 16 buses were registered in their names across Dindori, Jabalpur, Shahdol, Mandla and Balaghat districts. These vehicles were reportedly operating on the Dindori–Jabalpur, Dindori–Bamhani, Bichhiya–Dindori and Amarkantak–Malajkhand routes. Tax allegedly unpaid since 2006 Investigators revealed that tax dues for several of the 16 buses had not been cleared between 2006 and 2025. The vehicle owners had reportedly stopped paying tax in 2006 after informing the transport office that the buses had been sold as scrap. Files allegedly disappeared during recovery process In 2017, the District Transport Office in Dindori initiated proceedings to recover the outstanding tax. During this period, clerk Pushp Kumar Pradhan is accused of causing the bus tax files to go missing. Owing to the disappearance of these records, the department was unable to recover the arrears, resulting in an estimated loss of ₹9 crore to the government. Allegations of conspiracy and misuse of office According to the EOW, a criminal conspiracy was allegedly hatched between the bus operators and certain transport department officials. The investigation further indicates that some vehicles were dismantled without due permission. It is alleged that Pushp Kumar Pradhan abused his official position by failing to safeguard original documents relating to outstanding tax liabilities, thereby conferring undue benefit upon the accused.