Daijiworld Media Network - Gwalior
Gwalior, Mar 27: A woman tehsildar who once gained nationwide attention after winning Rs 50 lac on the popular quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2011 has been arrested in connection with a major fraud involving flood relief funds in Madhya Pradesh.
Amita Singh Tomar was taken into custody on Thursday from Gwalior for allegedly embezzling Rs 2.57 cr meant for flood victims in Sheopur district. At the time of the incident in 2021, she was serving as the tehsildar of Baroda.
According to investigators, Tomar, along with nearly 25 patwaris and over 100 middlemen, siphoned off funds by transferring money into 127 fake bank accounts. The scam came to light following an audit ordered by the Baroda deputy collector, which revealed serious irregularities in the disbursal process.
Probe findings indicate that relatives and acquaintances of the accused were falsely listed as flood victims to facilitate fraudulent transfers. Several tehsil office staff and intermediaries are suspected to have colluded in the operation. So far, more than 100 individuals, including Tomar and 25 patwaris, have been named in the case.
Tomar had attempted to evade arrest by seeking anticipatory bail. Her plea was rejected by the Gwalior bench of the High Court, following which she approached the Supreme Court with a Special Leave Petition. However, her plea was dismissed on March 17, 2026.
Police have registered a case under sections 420 (cheating), 467 and 468 (forgery), 409 (criminal breach of trust), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Following the rejection of her bail plea, police arrested Tomar from her residence. Notably, she had been removed from her post as Vijaypur tehsildar a day prior to her arrest.
Sheopur Superintendent of Police Sudhir Kumar Agrawal confirmed the development, stating that the investigation is ongoing and the involvement of more officials is likely to emerge.
In recent years, Tomar has also been in the spotlight over controversial social media posts, including remarks critical of administrative actions and objectionable comments related to the Constitution. She had earlier written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023 expressing dissatisfaction over frequent transfers and her posting.