Indore water deaths probe report manipulated to protect BJP leaders, alleges Congress

LoP in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly and Congress leader Umang Singhar with party MLAs stages a protest over Indore's water contamination deaths, during the Budget session of the State Assembly, in Bhopal, on February 17, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI

The Congress on Friday (October 2, 2026) alleged that the one-man judicial commission report on the Indore water contamination tragedy was “manipulated to protect” various Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including city Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava and Bhagirathpura councillor Kamal Baghela, by “putting pressure” on retired Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, who headed the panel.  

Addressing a press conference in Indore, Leader of the Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Umang Singhar said the water quality in India’s cleanest city had fallen to the level of “small villages in Africa”, and sought a First Information Report against those responsible for the tragedy, that claimed more than 30 lives between December 2025 and February 2026.

“This is the 21st century but even quality drinking water is not being made available. The situation in Indore, which is an economically emerging city, is today similar to that in Africa’s small villages. The Indore Municipal Corporation [IMC] has an annual budget of ₹8,500 crore,” he said, accusing the BJP of failing to provide clean drinking water despite having all the posts from the councillor to the government.