Latest news with #BachuKhabad
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Time of India
Dahod court grants bail to minister's sons in MNREGA scam
Vadodara: The Dahod chief judicial magistrate's court on Wednesday granted bail to Balwant Khabad and Kiran Khabad, sons of minister of state for agriculture and panchayat Bachu Khabad, in connection with the ongoing MNREGA scam. However, the court is expected to deliver the final verdict on Thursday after considering additional material presented by the investigating officer (IO). Balwant and Kiran, linked to two firms that supplied materials for MNREGA works without securing official contracts, were arrested on May 17 and May 19 respectively. Both were remanded to judicial custody before filing their bail applications last week. While the court granted bail on Wednesday, the IO requested more time to submit further evidence. The hearing will continue on Thursday before the court issues its final decision. The scam, unearthed in a probe by District Rural Development Authority (DRDA), involved illegible firms being given orders for the supply of materials for MNREGA works.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
NREGA scam: Four sent to judicial custody
Vadodara: Four accused person, including the sons of Gujarat minister of state for agriculture and panchayats, Bachu Khabad, held in the NREGA scam, were sent to judicial custody by a Dahod court on Wednesday and Thursday after their police custody ended. Khabad's elder son, Balwant, and taluka development officer (TDO) Darshit Patel, who was earlier posted in Dahod district, were presented in court on Wednesday after their remand ended. Both were sent to judicial custody by the court. On Thursday, the minister's younger son, Kiran, and in-charge deputy district development officer, Rasik Rathwa, were presented in court by police after their remand period ended. Both were sent to judicial custody. So far, 14 persons have been arrested in connection with the scam worth Rs 71 crore, and nine of them are in judicial custody. Agencies that did not bag contracts for supplying material for NREGA works were given orders, and their bills were paid. It also came to light that works taken up using this material remained incomplete. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Khabad says Congress targeting him over NREGA scam
Vadodara: Gujarat minister of state for agriculture and panchayats, Bachu Khabad, has finally reacted to the Rs 71 crore MNREGA scam, hitting out at the Congress party for targeting him. Khabad's sons, Balwant and Kiran, are accused of siphoned off Rs 30.04 crore between 2021-22 and 2023-24. Khabad, who did not react to his sons' arrests and or make a public appearance after their names cropped up, made a recorded statement and released it to the media. Khabad said the Congress had made allegations of corruption for six months now. He added that Congress tried to target him and even moved the high court but was not successful. Khabad said he had complete trust in the govt and the administration. He said he would accept whatever decision they arrived at. Khabad said he has been in politics for 25 years and has never faced allegations. He added that even after he became a minister, there were no corruption allegations against him.
New Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Gujarat minister Khabad defends sons in Rs 71 crore MNREGA scam, calls allegations politically motivated
AHMEDABAD: Under fire in the Dahod MNREGA scam, Gujarat Panchayat Raj Minister Bachu Khabad on Tuesday defended his sons, slamming the allegations as fabricated and politically motivated. 'Our role was limited to material supply; Congress is peddling falsehoods,' he claimed, breaking his silence after his younger son, Kiran Khabar, was arrested, days after the arrest of his elder son in the same case. Kiran, along with three others, was produced in court on Tuesday as police sought a 14-day remand. The court approved four-day custody for Kiran and TDO Rasik Rathwa, and a 10-day remand for APO Dilip Chauhan. Gujarat Panchayat Minister Bachu Khabad broke his silence on the MNREGA controversy in Dahod, slamming the Congress for what he called 'baseless allegations' of corruption against his sons. 'Congress is shouting that my sons looted MNREGA money through agencies. Let them prove it,' Khabad told reporters on Monday. 'I've presented my sons before the authorities myself. We're fully cooperating with the investigation. An FIR has been lodged, and we're helping the probe.'
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Gujarat mantri Bachu Khabad's socond son Kiran also held in Rs 71 crore MGNREGS scam
VADODARA: Gujarat minister of state for agriculture and panchayat Bachu Khabad's second son, Kiran Khabad (39), was arrested Monday in connection with a Rs 71 crore MGNREGS scam in Dahod. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Three others, including Khabad's nephew Dilip Chauhan, were also arrested, taking the total number of arrests to 11. Kiran's elder brother Balwant Khabad (43) was arrested Saturday. Both are linked to firms that supplied materials for MGNREGS projects in Devgadhbaria and Dhanpur talukas without qualifying through the mandatory bidding process. Police said these firms received funds despite not securing any contracts. A probe by District Rural Development Agency flagged 32 firms. Balwant is tied to Shri Raj Construction Co, which received Rs 82 lakh, while Kiran's Shri Raj Traders was paid over Rs 30 crore - more than 40% of the total funds siphoned off in scam. DRDA's inquiry found that much of the sanctioned roadwork was never executed, with payments made based on falsified progress between 2021-22 and 2023-24.
