RAIPUR (India CSR): A high-profile case exposing alleged illegal betting and a GPS scam tied to NTPC’s fly ash transportation contracts has emerged in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. Businessman Karan Agrawal, also known as Karan Chaudhary, has been booked under serious criminal provisions following a complaint of abduction and death threats.
According to police at Kotwali station, the FIR was registered after local resident Abhishek Sharma alleged that Agrawal, angered by social media posts about betting and fly ash scams, threatened him over a WhatsApp call. Sharma claimed that Agrawal warned he would send goons to abduct him and leave him bedridden for life.
Sharma said he later recorded another conversation using a different phone, in which Agrawal not only issued fresh threats of framing him in false cases but also openly admitted to being involved in cricket betting and a GPS scam linked to NTPC’s fly ash transportation contracts.
In the audio clip, which police have taken as crucial evidence, Agrawal can reportedly be heard using abusive language, stating he would “continue doing two-number (illegal) work” regardless of consequences, and challenging anyone to act against him.
Police have booked Agrawal under Sections 296 and 351:2 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and have initiated an investigation. Sources say the accused is likely to be called for questioning soon.
The GPS scam, as alleged in the conversation, involves tampering with tracking systems used for monitoring fly ash transportation from NTPC facilities, potentially enabling fraudulent operations in the supply chain. Fly ash, a byproduct of coal-fired power plants, has significant commercial value in cement and construction industries, making its transportation contracts lucrative.
Law enforcement officials say this case points toward deeper irregularities in betting rackets and industrial transport operations in the region. Civil society groups and residents have urged authorities to launch a full-scale probe into the suspected nexus between local business operators, betting syndicates, and those involved in the fly ash transport network.
As the investigation moves forward, pressure is mounting on both police and administrative authorities to dismantle the alleged network and ensure accountability in these high-value contracts.
(India CSR)
