According to a report, 47 people were declared dead a total of 280 times over three years from 2019-2022. Every time a person was declared dead due to a snake bite, Rs 4 lakh was issued as the government’s financial aid.
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In a shocking case of fraud involving government aid for those who died of snake bites or drowning, 47 people were declared dead a total of 280 times due to ‘snake bites’ in Madhya Pradesh’s Seoni district. The startling case has unravelled a crime that was committed over three years to the tune of Rs 11.26 crore. A report said that each time a person was declared dead, an amount of Rs 4 lakh was issued as a natural disaster relief aid.
The scam finally came to notice when the Revenue and Accounts Department conducted an audit in November 2022. According to a report in India Today, the officials of the department found that 47 people were declared dead about 280 times from 2019 to 2022.
“The relief amount is given to the kin of people who died of snake bite or drowning. After investigation, we found that Rs 11 crore 26 lakh has been misappropriated and sent to the accounts of 47 people,” Investigation Officer, Rohit Singh Kaushal, was quoted as saying by India Today.
Citing an example, he said a woman named Dwarka Bai, who had died of a snake bite, was declared dead 29 times. As per the report, a relief amount of Rs 1.16 crore was released in her name. A man, Shri Ram, apparently died 28 times, and Rs 4 lakh was sanctioned each time, totalling to Rs 1.12 crore.
Accused Is Clerk Of Office
Speaking on the case, District Magistrate Sanskriti Jain said, “Between 2019 and 2022, a clerk, Sachin Dahayat, in Keolari tehsil had transferred money in many RBC 6(4) cases to other accounts. This was reported to be a scam of ₹11 crore 26 lakh, which was duly investigated.”
Meanwhile, the report added, a legal action has been recommended against SDM Amit Singh Bamroliya and four tehsildars posted in Keolari during the time the fraud took place.