In Haryana’s Palwal district local activists and residents who allegedly exposed a road construction scam are now facing FIR.
Dholagarh village in Palwal district, Haryana, is at the center of allegations of mismanagement and an alleged scam in road construction. Residents claim that a road built in 2021 developed severe defects within seven months, causing inconvenience to villagers. Despite repeated complaints over the past two years, the issues reportedly remained unaddressed.
When the residents along with Palwal Ki Buland Awaz, a social workers group, approached the Executive Engineer (XEN), PWD, on October 9, 2025, a joint inspection was conducted the same day and repairs were ordered. However, the next day, an FIR was filed against complainants themselves accusing them of misbehaviour and obstructing public work, allegations they deny and claim are supported by video evidence.
The activists of the Palwal Ki Buland Awaz and local residents claim that the FIR against them is to silence their voices. When The Logical Indian reached out to Ritesh Yadav, Executive Engineer (XEN), he denied these allegations stating, “they forcibly entered the office and misbehaved.”
However, The Logical Indian has seen the video provided by Palwal Ki Buland Awaz, in which both sides seem to be speaking comfortably.
Shantnu Thakur, a member of the group who is also a sportsperson and shooting coach, alleges that the delay in repairs may have allowed authorities to issue a new ₹2.5 crore tender for reconstruction, potentially pointing to financial misconduct.
Social Workers and Residents Approach XEN
On October 9, 2025, members of the social worker group Palwal Ki Buland Awaz, local residents, and journalists visited the office of the Executive Engineer (XEN) Ritesh Yadav, submitting a formal written complaint.
According to Shantnu Thakur, a member of the group who spoke exclusively to The Logical Indian, “We went with local residents and journalists to submit the complaint. Initially, reporters were asked to leave when they tried to record, but the XEN later allowed us to stay and discuss the issue.”
Shantnu added, “We also contacted the DC to ensure the matter was taken seriously, as local officials had been delaying action for years.”
Joint Inspection Ordered the Same Day
The XEN reportedly assured the group that a joint inspection would be conducted at the site the same day. Officials from PWD, the Municipal Council, Public Health Department, and other departments reportedly visited Dholagarh at around 3 pm.
Shantnu said, “During the inspection, officials themselves admitted to discrepancies in the road construction and ordered immediate repairs. Work reportedly began the next day.”
FIR Filed Against Complainants
The following day, the complainants discovered that an FIR had been filed against them. The FIR, registered on the night of October 10, allegedly names social worker Rohit Kaushik and 10–12 others, accusing them of forcibly entering the office, misbehaving, and obstructing public work.
Shantnu told The Logical Indian, “We did not misbehave in any way. We have video evidence showing our conduct was professional throughout the meeting. Yet, the FIR names us under serious charges.”
Alleged Scam and Mismanagement
Thakur also alleged a possible scam, stating, “This is not just negligence. The PWD department is responsible for maintaining roads for five years. Instead of repairing the road, they allowed the period to lapse, so a new tender worth ₹2.5 crore could be issued for reconstruction. This appears to be a way to pocket money again instead of fulfilling maintenance obligations.”
He added, “Officials were delaying action even after multiple complaints from villagers since February 2022. They claimed interlocking tiles and proper surfacing were not done according to the contract, but still no corrective action was taken until we visited their office.”
Shantnu further said, “If action is not taken and the FIR against us is not withdrawn, we will hold a public dharna to demand accountability.”
Documentation and Evidence
The complainants have shared FIR copies, images of the damaged road, and video clips of their interaction with the XEN, with The Logical Indian. Shantnu reiterated, “We want a thorough investigation, as this may involve political figures, though we are not certain. The residents’ repeated complaints were ignored to allow a new tender, which raises serious questions about accountability.”
XEN Responds to FIR and Corruption Allegations
When The Logical Indian reached out to Ritesh Yadav, Executive Engineer, Palwal, he denied that the FIR against the complainants was intended to silence them.
According to Yadav, the FIR was filed because they “forcibly entered the office and misbehaved.” He added that the road issue was related to the settlement of the soil due to a pipeline beneath, which had become loose over time and was causing repeated damage.
Yadav said, “The material used for the road is good, but the pipeline beneath the soil went loose. Over time, the road has been settling due to traffic. We have repaired it two to three times, and the villagers know this. One possible solution is to reconstruct it from the beginning, and I am making a case for full reconstruction so the public won’t be bothered.”
He also confirmed that road repair work is currently in progress at the site.
Implications and Need for Transparency
This incident raises concerns about the management of public infrastructure projects and the treatment of citizens and social activists attempting to address civic issues. Residents and social workers hope that publicizing the case will ensure both immediate redressal and long-term systemic reforms.
Image Courtesy: Shantnu Thakur, member of Palwal ki Buland Awaz
