Daijiworld Media Network - Bhopal
Bhopal, Oct 7: In a sweeping operation targeting corruption in public welfare schemes, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided multiple locations in Madhya Pradesh, unearthing a Rs 30 crore fraud allegedly masterminded by a former Janpad Panchayat CEO.
The searches, conducted on October 3 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, covered seven locations across Bhopal, Vidisha, Katni, and Chhatarpur. The primary focus of the investigation is Shobhit Tripathi, the former CEO of Janpad Panchayat Sironj, and his close associates.
During the raids, the ED seized a trove of incriminating documents, digital devices, and froze assets worth Rs 21.7 lakh — including bank accounts and mutual fund holdings linked to Tripathi and his circle.
The case stems from an earlier FIR filed by the Economic Offense Wing (EOW) in Bhopal, alleging a wide-ranging embezzlement of funds meant for the Marriage Assistance Scheme — a government initiative to support families of registered construction workers. Investigators believe Tripathi, along with data operators Yogendra Sharma and Hemant Sahu, siphoned off approximately Rs 30.18 crore between 2019 and November 2021.
According to the ED, the accused fabricated documents and uploaded fake beneficiary data to the official portal. These entries facilitated the transfer of welfare funds to ineligible recipients, many of whom were either fictitious or linked to the accused.
Once the funds were released, they were reportedly withdrawn in small tranches via ATMs and redirected into accounts controlled by Tripathi, his family members, and related business entities. The laundered money was then masked through complex layering involving relatives' bank accounts, stock investments, and real estate purchases, giving it the appearance of legitimate income.
The agency said the scam exposed serious loopholes in the digital implementation of welfare schemes, underlining the urgent need for stronger verification protocols and audit trails.
The ED has promised continued scrutiny of the financial trail, suggesting more names and assets may come under the scanner as the investigation deepens.
This case adds to growing concerns over the misuse of digital welfare platforms and highlights the persistent challenges in safeguarding public funds from systemic corruption.