In a bizarre case of fraud under Chhattisgarh’s Mahtari Vandan Yojana, a government scheme for married women, a man allegedly created a fake account in the name of Bollywood actor Sunny Leone and pocketed the monthly assistance of ₹1,000 meant for beneficiaries.
The accused, identified as Virendra Joshi, reportedly opened and operated the fraudulent account, siphoning off funds under the scheme launched by the BJP government. The scam came to light in Talur village, Bastar region, after media reports highlighted the anomaly.
District Collector Haris S has directed the Women and Child Development Department to conduct a thorough investigation, seize the bank account, and recover the embezzled funds. Meanwhile, officials responsible for beneficiary verification are being identified for potential lapses in their duties.
The incident has triggered a political war of words between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress. State Congress chief Deepak Baij alleged that more than 50% of the beneficiaries under the scheme are fraudulent. In response, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao countered that the Congress is uncomfortable because the BJP-led government has succeeded in providing assistance that the Congress failed to deliver during its tenure.
The case has not only raised questions about the scheme’s implementation but also highlighted the need for stricter verification processes to prevent such fraudulent activities.
