Rajasthan energy minister Heeralal Nagar’s Rs 2 lakh electricity bill unpaid: Hanuman Beniwal alleges VIP bias; flags fund misuse

NEW DELHI: Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal has alleged that Rajasthan energy minister Heeralal Nagar has unpaid electricity bills worth over Rs 2 lakh, even as the power supply to Beniwal’s official residence and MP office in Nagaur was recently cut over non-payment of dues. Beniwal claimed to have shared documents showing pending dues of Rs 2.17 lakh for Nagar’s government bungalow on Hospital Road. He questioned whether the minister's connection would also be disconnected, as his had been. According to Beniwal, bills for Nagar’s Jyoti Nagar flats were cleared from government funds. However, when officials tried to settle the Hospital Road bill the same way, the treasury reportedly refused, stating that only one bill per minister can be paid from public money. The minister denied having any pending dues and clarified that the bill in question is still within its due date. Beniwal further alleged corruption in the installation of smart meters, claiming that the process involved kickbacks reaching up to senior officials, including the minister. He said the tendering process began under the Congress government, but was finalised and implemented under the BJP, without any changes to conditions. Beniwal also raised allegations against Khivsar MLA Rewant Ram Danga, pointing to overdue bills and alleged rule violations in granting electricity connections. He accused Danga of involvement in irregularities under the Prime Minister’s Fasal Bima Yojana and illegal mining activities. He criticised the state government over the sub-inspector recruitment controversy, alleging inconsistent positions in court and calling it an example of administrative failure. He also named the Nagaur SP and former MP Jyoti Mirdha in alleged illegal sand mining operations.