A video of the accused in the ₹1.31 crore paddy scam cleaning the toilet in the Collectorate is viral
A video of Shashikant Mahant, an accused in an alleged ₹1.31 crore paddy scam in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district, showing him cleaning a toilet at the collectorate has gone viral.
Mahant claimed that he was cleaning the toilet on the instructions of Collector Amrit Vikas Topno. After the video surfaced, the collector rejected the allegations, calling them false and misleading.
Collector Amrit Vikas Topno said, “The video was part of a deliberate conspiracy. Mahant was making such claims to evade the corruption proceedings against him.”
The collector said, “If officials had forced him to clean the toilet, he would not have been able to record the video himself. Mahant could have gone anywhere, cleaned a toilet and recorded a video.”
The matter has also been reported to the Chhattisgarh Human Rights Commission. However, the video is reportedly around a week old and has only recently gone viral on social media. Meanwhile, Dabhra police have arrested Shashikant Mahant in connection with the case.
First, take a look at these pictures…
Shashikant Mahant, accused in the paddy scam, was seen cleaning the toilet by hand.
It is alleged that Shashikant Mahant was cleaning the toilet at the behest of the Collector.
Shashikant Mahant has also complained about this matter to the Human Rights Commission.
What is the case about?
The case concerns the Putidih paddy procurement centre and first came to light in Nov 2025. At the time, officials received information that soil was being mixed into sacks of paddy.
During the investigation, a shortage of around 4,200 quintals of paddy was detected. It was alleged that soil was being mixed into the paddy sacks to conceal the shortage.
The estimated loss to the government is around ₹1.31 crore. Initially, an FIR was registered against Prakash Mahant, the person in charge of the paddy procurement centre.
Later, a cooperative department investigation found the alleged involvement of institution manager Shashikant Mahant, computer operator Dron Pratap Shandilya and employee Shyama Bai.
FIR ordered against 3 people after investigation
Following the investigation, orders were issued on 29 May 2026 to register FIRs against Shashikant Mahant, Dron Pratap Shandilya and Shyama Bai as well.
Meanwhile, Shashikant Mahant was seen cleaning a toilet at the collectorate. On 6 Aug 2026, he filed a complaint against the collector with the Human Rights Commission.
Claims he cleaned toilet on collector’s instructions
Shashikant Mahant claimed, “I was cleaning the toilet on the collector’s instructions”. After the video went viral, the collector rejected the allegations as false. He said, “Mahant had fabricated the story to avoid action in connection with the alleged scam.”
Police have arrested accused Shashikant Mahant and employee Shyam Bai.
Sent to jail in judicial custody
Police arrested the accused on 11 Aug and produced him before a court. The court subsequently sent him to judicial custody. Police are continuing their investigation into the case.
