SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, April 5: Kanhai Chouhan, a coal delivery order (DO) holder, has accused Dhanbad BJP MP Dhulu Mahto and his brother, newly elected Baghmara MLA Shatrughan Mahto, of demanding ₹1,600 per tonne for coal loading in his area.
In a written complaint to the Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner, Chouhan alleged that his trucks have been stationed at Muraidih Coal Dump in Barora Colliery of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) since March 22 due to this extortion demand hindering coal loading.
Chouhan further implicated Barora Colliery Area General Manager Piyush Kishore, Project Officer Kajal Sarkar, and Sales Officer Parmendra Kumar in the alleged extortion scheme. He also claimed to have received life-threatening warnings related to the extortion demands and has forwarded his complaint to Chief Minister Hemant Soren and other senior state officials.
This isn’t the first time Mahto has faced such allegations. In 2022, Chouhan lodged a similar complaint against Dhullu Mahto, who was then the Baghmara MLA, but Mahto reportedly did not appear in the Deputy Commissioner’s court.
The Barora Colliery Area General Manager stated that the management has no role in coal loading, as DO holders manage it independently. Attempts to contact the BJP MP and MLA for comments were unsuccessful.
Background on Dhulu Mahto
Dhulu Mahto, the sitting BJP MP from Dhanbad, has a controversial history marked by multiple criminal allegations. Over the years, he has faced over 50 FIRs involving charges such as extortion, attempted murder, and assault on government employees. Trial courts have convicted him in at least four cases, with approximately 19 cases still pending as of May 2024. Despite these legal challenges, Mahto has maintained significant political influence in the region, having served as the MLA for Baghmara since 2009 before being elected as MP. His political journey began with the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM), later switching to the BJP in 2014. Mahto’s rise in Dhanbad’s political landscape is often attributed to his stronghold in the coal belt and his association with local trade unions.