Gujarat Congress Vice President Hira Jotva grilled by police over Rs 7.3 crore MNREGA scam
AHMEDABAD: An assistant project manager has flagged a shocking MNREGA scam worth Rs 7.3 crore across villages in Gujarat's Bharuch district, Amod, Jambusar, and Hansot Taluka.
Acting on the complaint, Bharuch police have now summoned Congress leader Hira Jotva from Gir Somnath for questioning. Sources indicate that police may move toward arresting him following the interrogation.
The Rs 7.30 crore fraud, spanning 430 development works across 56 villages in Amod, Jambusar, and Hansot talukas, was first flagged on May 30 by a government official from the Gram Vikas Agency, who filed a formal complaint at Bharuch's A Division Police Station.
The investigation zeroed in on two Veraval-based firms — Shri Jalaram Enterprise and Muralidhar Enterprise — contracted for supplying material under MNREGA projects. These agencies allegedly manipulated records, provided substandard material, and bypassed mandatory manual labour by using machines, thereby violating the core principles of the rural employment scheme and causing massive losses to the state exchequer.
Police identified Piyush Nukani, owner of Shri Jalaram Enterprise, and Jodhabhai Sabhad, owner of Muralidhar Enterprise, as key players in the racket.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Jagmeet Singh is target of hate because...': Shocking report reveals steep rise in South Asian hate in Canada
Jagmeet Singh has been the target of online hatred toward South Asians which sees a rising trend in Canada, report revealed. Between March 1 and April 20, just before the election in Canada, there were more than 2,300 social media posts on X from Canadian accounts targeting South Asians, and the easy target was former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh . A report titled 'The Rise of Anti-South Asian hate in Canada', conducted by UK-based Institute for Strategic Dialog, revealed the trend of a steep rise in hate toward South Asians in Canada, Toronto Star reported. The report said Canada is being used as an example of what happened when immigration policies led to an "invasion" of South Asian migrants. The report noted that while the study was on social media hatred, the trend is not limited to the online world. "Between 2019 and 2023, police-reported hate crimes against South Asians in Canada increased by more than 200 per cent, according to Statistics Canada," the report said. Analyst at ISD Steven Rai told the Toronto Star that these stereotypes are being promoted by domestic extremists and then getting picked up by people all around the world. Rai said Jagmeet Singh is a target of hate not only because he's a brown man who wears a turban, but also because he's articulate, well-dressed and has reached the upper echelons of Canadian society. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Worst Home Items That People Own, Ranked CleverClassic Undo 'If you're a white supremacist and you're seeing someone like Jagmeet Singh flourish and gain prominence in Canadian politics and in society … a person like that is really seen as a profound threat,' Rai said. Jagmeet Singh stepped down as the party chief after he lost his seat in British Columbia in the election. He lost his sear in the House of Commons that he held since 2019. Singh entered politics in 2011 after being elected to the Ontario provincial parliament. In 2017, he became the leader of his party, the first person of color to head a federal party in Canada.
India.com
19 minutes ago
- India.com
'Water Won't Go Anywhere,' Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil Reiterates India's Stance on Indus Waters Treaty
Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil on Thursday reaffirmed India's position that it will not lift the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, stating that the water under the treaty will not go anywhere. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Paatil said, "The water won't go anywhere. He "Bilawal Bhutto) had threatened of blood and water flowing but we are not scared of such hollow threats," he to Pakistan People's Party Chief Bilawal Bhutto's remarks on the Indus Water Treaty, he sais India will not be threatened by false or aggressive added, "Earlier, Bilawal Bhutto also gave a threat that if water won't flow, blood will flow. I want to say that we won't be intimidated by such threats. Ham aisi gidar dhamkiyon se darte nahi" Regarding the Indus Water Treaty, CR Patil stated, "This decision belongs to the Indian government. Whatever decision is taken will only benefit the nation." During a media briefing on the 11 years of the Modi government, Patil highlighted the government's achievements and work done by the Jal Shakti Ministry. He mentioned, "Under PM Modi's leadership, our country has been growing... This is the first government that thinks for all sections of society... Our farmers are getting direct transfer benefits." Patil also spoke about the government's efforts to conserve and effectively use water for the country's benefit, stating that a Rs 501 crore grant has been received for the Jal Jeevan Mission and the ministry is actively working on its implementation. Earlier, an important source told ANI that the Indian government has decided to divert water meant for Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty for use in four Indian states, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi. The Jal Shakti Ministry is working on infrastructure development at a war-footing level to implement this decision. The ministry aims to ensure that not a single drop of water meant for Pakistan goes to waste. Instead, it will be utilised to meet the water needs of four states, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi. These states will benefit from the diverted water, addressing their water shortages, sources added. This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that "Desh ka pani desh ke haq me bahega ("India's water will flow in India's favour")". The Jal Shakti Ministry has been working towards this goal under the guidance and supervision of Home Minister Amit Shah. Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil held several meetings at the Jal Shakti Ministry to review and discuss the Indus Water Treaty with officials. (With ANI inputs)
Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
Int'l trafficking kingpin's den busted in city, 2 girls rescued
Nagpur: In a major crackdown on human trafficking , the crime branch's social service branch raided a spa-turned-flesh trade den and rescued two girls from the clutches of an alleged cross-border trafficker Parvati Thapa, alias Pinky Thapa. The operation, conducted on Wednesday at a spa near Trimurti Nagar Chowk, exposed a prostitution racket catering to elite clients, including govt officials, politicians, and businessmen from Nagpur and surrounding areas like Yavatmal, Akola, and Amravati. The raid, led by senior inspector Gajanan Gulhane, under the supervision of DCP Rahul Maknikar, ACP Abhijeet Patil, and additional CP Vasant Pardeshi, was executed between 6pm and 11:55pm based on intelligence. The social service branch team uncovered a well-organised operation run by Tausif Karim Sheikh, who worked as manager in collusion with Thapa. The duo allegedly exploited vulnerable girls from economically weaker states under the guise of providing them with jobs as masseuses at the spa. The rescued girls were among those trafficked by Thapa, identified as a key supplier of girls to high-profile brothels across India. A case has been registered against Sheikh and Thapa at Rana Pratap Nagar police station. This marks the second such crackdown within a month, following a similar raid in Shraddhanand Peth. Sources reveal that Thapa, a notorious figure in the international trafficking network, has been luring young women and initially placing them in Delhi-based spas before moving them to cities like Nagpur. These spas, serving as fronts for prostitution, attract high-profile clients seeking "exotic" services. One of the rescued girls was found to be married to a Rajasthan native, adding a layer of complexity to the victims' stories. The trafficking network's reach and sophistication have raised concerns about the safety of vulnerable women from marginalised regions. Authorities are now intensifying efforts to dismantle Thapa's operations, which reportedly span multiple cities. The rescued girls have been provided with medical care and counselling, and efforts are underway to ensure their safe return to their families. The bust has sparked outrage in Nagpur, with calls for stricter regulation of spas and salons to prevent their misuse as fronts for illegal activities. The police, under CP Ravinder Singal, have vowed to continue their crackdown on trafficking networks to protect vulnerable women and curb the city's illicit flesh trade.
