Bawankule Suspends SDO Balpande, Books Ex-Tehsildar in Sand Mining Case

• Sub-divisional officer Gajendra Balpande was suspended for illegal sand mining in Bhandara district.
• Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced the suspension in the Assembly.
• A case was also filed against the then Tehsildar Mahendra Sonawane for dereliction of duty.
• The action followed the illegal extraction of 34,600 brass of sand by Keshavpriya Infrastructure.
• Officials failed to act on a Talathi's report regarding the illegal mining.

Why It Matters: Officials face consequences for illegal sand mining and negligence.