Shivraj Singh Chouhan

In July 2026, Madhya Pradesh farmers protested against limits on purchasing moong at the minimum support price, including a demonstration outside Shivraj Singh Chouhan's residence. The minister stated that the Centre had authorised purchases under PM-AASHA and that the state could exceed the limit with its own funds. A subsequent agreement increased purchasing to 60% in several districts.

State of the evidence

protests and negotiations documented

Legal status — source text

no judicial proceedings

Attribution

political responsibility as Union Agriculture Minister; no legal wrongdoing

Lawyer and parliamentarian Vivek Tankha filed a criminal defamation complaint against Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other BJP officials, alleging that they had falsely presented him as responsible for blocking OBC reservations after December 2021 court decisions. The challenge to the proceedings reached the Supreme Court.

State of the evidence

complaint, High Court decisions and Supreme Court proceedings documented

Legal status — source text

High Court declined to quash complaint in 2024; in February 2026 parties announced amicable settlement and withdrawal of proceedings, with the SLP disposed of

Attribution

Chouhan personally named as defendant over allegedly defamatory remarks; no final conviction

The 2023 recruitment of patwaris triggered protests after it emerged that seven of the ten highest-scoring candidates had taken the examination at the same Gwalior centre, linked to a BJP legislator. Amid suspicions of fraud, Chouhan suspended appointments and announced an inquiry led by a retired High Court judge.

State of the evidence

controversy and alleged anomalies documented; inquiry ordered

Legal status — source text

no personal conviction; appointments suspended pending review of irregularities

Attribution

governance responsibility as Chief Minister; no personal fraud established

An investigation examined alleged manipulation of Madhya Pradesh's electronic public procurement portal to alter bids or favour particular bidders. The case led to FIRs and prosecutions involving public officials and companies, prompting debate over procurement oversight under Chouhan's government.

State of the evidence

alleged manipulation and investigation documented; proceedings against officials/companies, no personal conviction of Chouhan

Legal status — source text

defendants prosecuted; six acquitted in 2022 for insufficient evidence in their trial

Attribution

political and governance responsibility as head of government at the time; no personal criminal attribution

Person targeted by the proceedings

six accusés

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Following communal violence in Khargone during Ram Navami, authorities demolished property largely belonging to Muslims described as involved in the unrest. Chouhan had announced that damages would be recovered from rioters. Amnesty International described the destruction as apparently unlawful demolition and collective punishment without sufficient safeguards.

State of the evidence

demolitions documented; criticism by human rights organisations

Legal status — source text

no personal conviction of Chouhan; legality of methods strongly contested

Attribution

direct political responsibility for public policy of recovering damages and demolitions carried out by the administration

An audit of the Take Home Ration programme identified major anomalies: impossible vehicles or motorcycles recorded as 'lorries', discrepancies in production and supply, and problems in beneficiary counts. The affair affected a department subject to significant political responsibility by the Chief Minister.

State of the evidence

audit findings documented

Attribution

governance responsibility, with the Women and Child Development portfolio falling directly under the Chouhan government; no personal appropriation established

In late 2020, the Madhya Pradesh cabinet approved an ordinance increasing penalties for conversions obtained by force, fraud, coercion or in certain circumstances connected with marriage. Politically presented as a response to 'love jihad', the measure sparked fierce debate over religious freedom, interfaith marriages and the risk of police abuse.

State of the evidence

adopted text and public debate documented

Legal status — source text

legislative measure, no personal offence

Attribution

political responsibility as Chief Minister who chaired the cabinet adopting the measure

The Vyapam scandal involved large-scale examination and recruitment fraud in Madhya Pradesh. Opponents alleged that hard-drive data had been tampered with to erase references to Shivraj Singh Chouhan. In 2017, the CBI rejected that specific allegation while continuing proceedings against numerous other people involved in the scandal.

State of the evidence

Vyapam scandal established; personal allegation of manipulation investigated and found baseless by CBI

Legal status — source text

Chouhan not charged in this strand; CBI found no basis for alleged hard-drive/Excel data tampering

Attribution

personal allegations documented, with favourable investigative outcome; do not attribute other defendants' offences to him

During farmers' protests at Mandsaur in June 2017, five farmers were shot dead by police, triggering a major political crisis. Chouhan announced a judicial inquiry and substantial compensation for the families.

State of the evidence

deaths from police gunfire and political crisis documented

Legal status — source text

judicial inquiry ordered; no personal criminal proceedings against Chouhan in this case

Attribution

political responsibility as head of government for crisis management, without attributing a personal order to shoot

A 2007 complaint alleged that four dump trucks registered in the Chief Minister's wife's name had been leased to an industrial group in exchange for mining benefits. The Lokayukta found no basis for charging the couple, and a court accepted closure; an opponent subsequently challenged the closure before the High Court.

State of the evidence

complaint, Lokayukta investigation and litigation documented; allegations not established

Legal status — source text

Lokayukta and then special court closed the case for insufficient grounds; High Court subsequently requested the investigation file during a challenge

Attribution

direct allegations against Chouhan and his wife, without conviction