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The Wire
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Police Arrest Gujarat Minister's Son in Rs 71-Crore MGNREGS Funds Scam
Balvant Khabad and his father Bachubhai (right). Photo: Social media. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Donate now New Delhi: Gujarat police has arrested the son of a minister in an alleged Rs 71-crore scam involving funds of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Bachubhai Khabad's son, Balvant Khabad, was nabbed by the police in Dahod. According to the police, some agencies which had been contracted for various works, did not finish the projects but received payment from the government. These agencies produced bogus bills, NDTV reported. Balvant is one of the owners of these agencies. His father is Minister of State for Panchayat and Agriculture and an MLA from Devgadhbariya constituency. Balvant is accused of committing fraud in 'areas under Devgadh Baria and Dhanpur talukas of tribal-dominated Dahod district', the report said. A former Taluka Development Officer (TDO), Darshan Patel, has also been arrested. Both of them have been remanded to five days of police custody, Indian Express reported. 'We conducted a primary investigation, and it came to light that an agency being run by Balvantsinh Khabad, which supplies goods to MGNREGA projects, had put forth bills for certain amounts without delivering the entire list of goods,' Jagdish Bhandari, Deputy Superintendent of Police of Dahod District said to Express. 'The probe is ongoing and we are yet to ascertain the exact amount of mis-dealings. We have been granted five days' police remand for both the accused arrested today,' Bhandari added. Congress has alleged that the government did not act despite repeated complaints. It has now demanded that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) should probe the matter. 'Despite repeated complaints of corruption in the MGNREGA scheme in Dahod, where projects have not been executed on the ground but bills have been cleared, the government did not take steps. The Congress has been raising the issue time and again, in writing and orally, as well as through questions in the Assembly,' Amit Chavda, a Congress leader said, according to Express.
Hindustan Times
18-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Gujarat minister's son on run arrested over MGNREGS irregularities
Gujarat minister Bachubhai Khabad's son, Balvant Khabad, has been arrested for his alleged involvement in irregularities worth ₹71 crore in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) scheme in Dahod, a police officer said. The arrest followed a probe into fraudulent activities by contracted agencies that received government payments without completing work or supplying goods. 'Dahod Police have arrested Bachubhai Khabad's son, Balvant Khabad, and the then TDO [Taluka development officer] Darshan Patel in connection with the MGNREGA scam in the district. We arrested five persons earlier,' said deputy police superintendent Jagdishsinh Bhandari on Saturday. The irregularities were unearthed in MNREGA projects in Devgadh Baria and Dhanpur talukas of the tribal-dominated Dahod district. Authorities identified 35 government agencies for scrutiny. Seven people, including government officials, have been arrested so far in the case. The irregularities came to light this year. The district rural development authority conducted an inquiry into the matter after representations about the irregularities. A second police officer described the irregularities as a well-orchestrated fraud involving fictitious projects and forged documents. He added that the investigations were going on to uncover their full scope. Between January 2021 and December 2024, 35 contracted agencies allegedly siphoned off ₹71 crore by producing fake work completion certificates and invoices. Balvant Khabad owns one of these agencies, Shri Raj Construction. His brother, Kiran Khabad, who is linked to another firm, Shri Raj Traders, is absconding, police said. The two firms received money even as they did not win the bids for the projects. Shri Raj Construction allegedly received approximately ₹82 lakh for the supply of goods between January 2021 and December 2024, according to the First Information Report filed in the case, a copy of which HT has seen. Kiran Khabad's firm was allegedly paid nearly ₹30 crore. Balwant and Kiran Khabad applied for anticipatory bail in a Dahod court but later withdrew their petitions. They were evading arrest before Balwant Khabad was caught. Balwant Khabad and Patel were presented in a Dahod court and were remanded to police custody for five days. Police were investigating the involvement of more agencies and officials. Minister Bachubhai Khabad was yet to comment on his son's arrest. Gujarat Congress raised concerns about the MGNREGS irregularities in Dahod during the Gujarat assembly session on March 5. Congress leader Amit Chavda raised the issue, alleging corruption worth over ₹100 crore. He demanded an investigation. The state government said a Lokpal committee probe was going on, and action would follow its completion. Chavda on Saturday slammed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its handling of the issue. He said the MGNREGS fraud was part of 'widespread corruption' and criticised the government for allowing firms linked to the Khabad family to receive unchecked payments for years. He demanded a Special Investigation Team probe, alleging that the current investigation was insufficient and that 'bigger names' could emerge with a deeper inquiry. A Gujarat BJP spokesperson refused to comment on the matter.
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- The Hindu
Gujarat Minister Bachubhai Khabad's son arrested in MGNREGA scam: Police
Gujarat Minister Bachubhai Khabad's son, Balvant Khabad, was arrested on Saturday (May 17, 2025) for his alleged involvement in a ₹71 crore MGNREGA scam where some contracted agencies received payments from the government without finishing work or supplying goods, police said. Police also arrested the then Taluka Development Officer (TDO) Darshan Patel in Dahod district, taking the number of persons held so far to seven, an officer said on Saturday. Mr. Bachubhai Khabad, who represents the Devgadhbariya constituency, is a Minister of State for Panchayat and Agriculture. The alleged scam involved owners of 35 agencies in connivance with government officials siphoning off ₹71 crore between 2021 and 2024 by producing bogus work completion certificates and other evidence to get the payment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. A police officer said Mr. Balvant Khabad owns one of these agencies, accused of committing fraud in MGNREGA works in areas under Devgadh Baria and Dhanpur talukas of tribal-dominated Dahod district. "Dahod Police have arrested Bachubhai Khabad's son Balvant Khabad and the then TDO Darshan Patel in connection with the MGNREGA scam in the district. We had arrested five persons earlier," said Deputy Superintendent of Police and Investigation Officer Jagdishsinh Bhandari. Police last month registered an FIR on charges of cheating, forgery, and breach of trust against unidentified persons, including government employees, after the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) unearthed the scam amounting to ₹71 crore. During field visits, RDA officials found that payments were made to the contractors for those roads not laid but shown as completed on the paper to receive the payment, the FIR said. The assigned work includes constructing roads, check walls, and stone bunds in two talukas of Dahod between January 2021 and December 2024. Police said payments were also made to agencies ineligible for supplying material or those who had not participated in the tendering process. Further investigation is underway.
NDTV
17-05-2025
- NDTV
Gujarat Minister's Son Arrested In Rs 71 Crore Rural Jobs Scheme Scam: Cops
Dahod: Gujarat Minister Bachubhai Khabad's son, Balvant Khabad, was arrested on Saturday for his alleged involvement in a Rs 71 crore MGNREGA scam where some contracted agencies received payments from the government without finishing work or supplying goods, police said. Police also arrested the then Taluka Development Officer (TDO) Darshan Patel in Dahod district, taking the number of persons held so far to seven, an officer said on Saturday. Bachubhai Khabad, who represents the Devgadhbariya constituency, is a Minister of State for Panchayat and Agriculture. The alleged scam involved owners of 35 agencies in connivance with government officials siphoning off Rs 71 crore between 2021 and 2024 by producing bogus work completion certificates and other evidence to get the payment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. A police officer said Balvant Khabad owns one of these agencies, accused of committing fraud in MGNREGA works in areas under Devgadh Baria and Dhanpur talukas of tribal-dominated Dahod district. "Dahod Police have arrested Bachubhai Khabad's son Balvant Khabad and the then TDO Darshan Patel in connection with the MGNREGA scam in the district. We had arrested five persons earlier," said Deputy Superintendent of Police and Investigation Officer Jagdishsinh Bhandari. Police last month registered an FIR on charges of cheating, forgery, and breach of trust against unidentified persons, including government employees, after the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) unearthed the scam amounting to Rs 71 crore. During field visits, RDA officials found that payments were made to the contractors for those roads not laid but shown as completed on the paper to receive the payment, the FIR said. The assigned work includes constructing roads, check walls, and stone bunds in two talukas of Dahod between January 2021 and December 2024. Police said payments were also made to agencies ineligible for supplying material or those who had not participated in the tendering process. Further investigation is underway.
