Panchayats’ go-to contractor turns fugitive in cow slaughter case:Leaves ₹20 lakh worth of government projects hanging

Khalil Contractor, the main accused in the cow slaughter case that surfaced on Eid al-Adha in Khandwa district’s Badiya Tula village, remains absconding. A favoured contractor for several Gram Panchayats, he has overseen numerous completed projects and is currently handling several ongoing works. With police still searching for him, Panchayat construction projects under his supervision are now in limbo. The case has also raised questions about how a contractor system has been operating in Panchayats for years, despite there being no legal provision for it. Read the report… Cremation ground work affected in Jawar Dainik Bhaskar’s team inspected the crematorium under construction in Jawer Gram Panchayat of Khandwa district. This work has been approved under the Chief Minister’s Infrastructure Scheme at an estimated cost of ₹20 lakh. According to panchayat representatives, the construction work was being carried out through Khalil. The crematorium work was found incomplete at the site. Some part of the fencing in the premises and pillars installed for the ‘Moksha Dwar’ (gateway to salvation) were visible. Local people say that the target was to complete the work before the monsoon, but after the accused absconded, the pace of construction has slowed down. Villagers allege that he was also responsible for construction material and work management, due to which the project has been affected. Questions about construction quality have been raised before Some villagers of Jawar Gram Panchayat alleged that quality-related complaints had emerged in the complex of 21 shops built at a cost of about ₹42 lakh a few months ago in the village. Similarly, some people from Sihada, Palakna, and Mundwara Gram Panchayats also alleged that quality-related problems had surfaced in some construction works associated with Khalil. However, these allegations have not been investigated or confirmed by any competent agency. Hemant Chauhan, the Sarpanch representative of Sihada Gram Panchayat, stated that some roads and drains built during the previous tenure had to be repaired later. Public representatives demanded investigation Deepak Yadav, the Janpad member representative from Jawar area, has demanded an investigation into the ongoing crematorium project. He alleges that the quality of work being done at the crematorium is substandard. Bricks from the wall are coming off by hand. He said, Some aspects related to the project’s DPR should be investigated. Yadav says that if the Panchayat had carried out the construction work itself, the quality could have been better. Work was being done through Khalil Amit Malviya, the Sarpanch of Jawar Gram Panchayat, admitted that some construction works of the Panchayat were being carried out through Khalil. He informed that earlier, the complex and the crematorium construction work was also under his responsibility. When asked about the work allotment process, he said that such a system is common in Panchayats, and work is carried out in a similar manner in most places. What do the rules for construction works in Panchayats say? According to retired Janpad CEO K.K. Uike, there is no provision for contracting for development works in Gram Panchayats in Madhya Pradesh. The Gram Panchayat itself is the construction agency. Panchayats have the right to approve works costing up to ₹25 lakh. Works costing more than ₹25 lakh are carried out through the Rural Engineering Service (RES) department. Excluding MGNREGA works, the department can also carry out some construction works through the tender process as per requirement. How did private individuals keep getting work? Panchayat representatives and local people say that in many places, construction work is practically carried out through private individuals. However, there is no clarity regarding under what rule this system operates and whose accountability it is. During the investigation, the question also arose that if the Panchayat itself is the construction agency, then why and how are works being carried out through private individuals in various Panchayats for years? Accused missing with family, house under CCTV surveillance In the cow slaughter case, contractor Khalil has absconded from his home with his family. CCTV cameras are installed outside his house in Badiyatula. People believe that with the help of CCTV, he is keeping an eye on the activities at home even while absconding. Meanwhile, according to Rameshwar Chowki in-charge Subhash Navde, accused Khalil also has a criminal record. 5-6 cases are registered against him, which are related to assault and check-bounce. CEO on contract system Joint Collector and in-charge Janpad Panchayat CEO Nikita Mandloi was questioned about the contract system and construction works in the panchayats. She refused to comment on it. 8 arrested so far in cow slaughter case According to Moghat Road Police Station In-charge Dhireesh Dharwal, a case of cow slaughter came to light in Badiyatula village on May 29. Police had recovered cow remains from the spot, and a case has been registered against 9 people: Khalil Thekedar, Saeed alias Monu, Ramzan Khan, Jahangir alias Golu (resident of village Sihada), Wasim Patel, Salman Khan, Khalid Khan (all residents of Badiya Tula), Abdul Khan alias Hafiz Imam (Mundwara), and Yunus (Badiya Tula). Police have arrested eight accused. Action has also been taken against the accused Ramzan Khan under the National Security Act (NSA). The main accused, Khalil Thekedar, is absconding.