The leader of the AAP and former pradhan of Tharjoon gramme panchayat under Seraj in Mandi district has been charged with cement theft

*Paromita Das

Jabna Chauhan, an AAP leader and former pradhan of Tharjoon gramme panchayat in Seraj in Mandi district, was arrested for allegedly stealing 986 cement bags purchased with government funds during her tenure as pradhan.
According to the police, Tej Ram, the panchayat secretary, reported to them that 14 water tanks were approved for the panchayat under MGNREGA in 2019. The panchayat approved the purchase of cement bags for the construction of the tanks on May 19, 2020.
A party spokesman is politically motivated.

Sher Singh, the state AAP spokesperson, claimed that the case against AAP leader Jabna Chauhan was politically motivated in order to harass her because she had only recently joined the party.
“The BJP is terrified of the AAP’s growing influence in Himachal.” If Jabna embezzled funds meant for cement bags that were never received by the panchayat in 2020, why has the panchayat secretary remained silent to this day? “The case was registered against Jabna when she joined the party only a few days ago,” he added.
“On June 26, 986 cement bags were paid for online to the Civil Supply, Thunag.” Despite making the payments, no construction was started. When villagers began inquiring about the tanks from panchayat officials in March 2021, newly elected pradhan Anjana Kumari and vice-pradhan Dola Ram visited the Civil Supply office. “They were told that the former pradhan had already taken 986 cement bags,” police said.

Shalini Agnihotri, the SP of Mandi, said a case had been filed against the accused for misappropriation of government funds.