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The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Gujarat Minister's second son arrested in ₹71 crore MGNREGA scam
Police have arrested Gujarat Minister Bachubhai Khabad's son Kiran in connection with a ₹71 crore Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scam, two days after taking his elder brother Balvant into custody. Deputy Superintendent of Police and Investigating Officer Jagdishsinh Bhandari on Monday (May 19, 2025) confirmed that three more individuals were arrested along with Mr. Kiran, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to 11. The seven persons arrested earlier include the minister's elder son, Balvant. 'On Monday (May 19, 2025), police arrested the minister's younger son Kiran, a former Taluka Development Officer (TDO), and two Assistant Programming Officers (APO),'Mr. Bhandari said. According to police, the accused were involved in a fraudulent scheme where several contracted agencies received payments from the government without completing the assigned work or supplying the required materials under the MGNREGA. The scam allegedly involved 35 agency owners, who colluded with government officials to siphon off ₹71 crore between 2021 and 2024 by submitting bogus work completion certificates and forged documents to claim payments under MGNREGA. Minister Bachubhai Khabad, who represents the Devgadh Baria constituency, currently serves as the Minister of State for Panchayat and Agriculture. 'His sons, Balvant and Kiran, are proprietors of agencies implicated in fraudulent MGNREGA projects carried out in the Devgadh Baria and Dhanpur talukas of Dahod district, a tribal-dominated region,' the police officer said. The First Information Report (FIR), filed last month, includes charges of cheating, forgery, and breach of trust against unidentified individuals, including government employees. The investigation began after the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) uncovered the scam during field inspections, revealing that payments had been made for infrastructure projects, such as roads, check walls, and stone bunds, that were never actually constructed. Furthermore, police noted that payments were also issued to agencies ineligible for government contracts or those that never participated in the official tendering process. The investigation is underway.
News18
20-05-2025
- Business
- News18
Gujarat Minister's Son, Nephew Arrested In Rs 71 Crore MGNREGA Scam Case
Last Updated: As per the FIR, DRDA officials found during field visits that contractors were paid for roads that were never built but falsely shown as completed to claim the payments In a shocking development in Vadodara, Gujarat police have arrested Kiran Khabad, the younger son of Bachubhai Khabad, the state's Minister of State for Panchayat and Agriculture, for alleged involvement in a Rs 71 crore MGNREGA scam. The scam involved contracted agencies receiving government payments despite failing to complete their work or supply goods, according to police sources. Kiran, along with three others—including the minister's nephew, Dilip Chauhan—has been detained. On Saturday, Kiran's elder brother, Balwant Khabad, was also arrested in connection with the case. Additionally, police apprehended Darshan Patel, the former Taluka Development Officer (TDO) of Dahod district, bringing the total number of arrests to seven. The fraudulent activities involved the use of fake supply companies. A PTI report reveals that between 2021 and 2024, owners of 35 agencies, in collusion with government officials, allegedly misappropriated Rs 71 crore by submitting fake work completion certificates and other forged documents to secure payments under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. Police investigations show that Kiran Khabad is linked to a supply firm named 'Shri Raj Traders', which received Rs 30.04 crore for MGNREGA projects without undergoing any tender process. Simultaneously, Balwant Khabad is associated with 'Shri Raj Construction Company', which secured Rs 82 lakh. Together, the two brothers accounted for approximately 40 percent of the total scam amount. These firms frequently claimed to supply materials that never actually reached the intended sites. Other individuals arrested include Parth Baria, owner of 'NJ Enterprise', and Rasik Rathwa, Deputy District Development Officer of Dahod. 'NJ Enterprise' was paid Rs 5.19 crore without any contract, making it a significant player in the scam. Last month, the police registered an FIR for cheating, forgery, and breach of trust against unidentified individuals, including government employees, following the District Rural Development Agency's (DRDA) discovery of the Rs 71 crore scam. According to the FIR, DRDA officials, during field inspections, found that payments were made to contractors for roads that were never constructed but were falsely reported as completed to claim payments. The work involved constructing roads, check walls, and stone bunds in two talukas of Dahod between January 2021 and December 2024. Police further stated that payments were made to agencies that were either ineligible to supply materials or had not participated in the tender process. The DRDA's in-depth investigation uncovered 32 fake firms involved in supplying MGNREGA materials without following the bidding procedure. These fraudulent activities were concentrated in Devgarh Baria and Dhanpur talukas, with many instances of roads being built only on paper. Dilip Chauhan, the Assistant Programme Officer (APO) of MGNREGA in Devgarh Baria, is considered the chief conspirator in the scam. Rasik Rathwa, the development officer of Dhanpur taluka at the time, reportedly collaborated in executing supply contracts for the Khabad brothers' fake companies and facilitated payments by circumventing regulations. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
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.
New Indian Express
17-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Rs 71 crore MGNREGA scam uncovered in Gujarat; minister's son arrested, another absconding
AHMEDABAD: A Rs 71-crore MGNREGA scam has rocked Gujarat's rural development system, with the arrested accused including Balwant Khabad, son of State Panchayat and Agriculture Minister Bachu Khabad. The scam, linked to massive irregularities in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme, has surfaced in Dahod district's Dhanpur and Devgadh Baria talukas. Confirming the arrest, Dahod Dy SP Jagdish Bhandari told local media, 'Balwant Khabad and then Taluka Development Officer (TDO) Darshan Patel have been arrested in connection with the MGNREGA scam in Dhanpur and Devgadh Baria. Further investigation is underway.' Meanwhile, the minister's younger son, Kiran Khabad, is absconding. Police said further investigation into the multi-crore fraud is ongoing. At the centre of the scam is a well-organised network of fictitious infrastructure projects, roads, bunds, and other public works, that existed only on paper. Funds meant for tribal employment under MGNREGA were allegedly siphoned off through forged certificates and fake invoices, with the money reportedly diverted to agencies linked to the minister's sons. The scandal surfaced after B M Patel, Director of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), flagged major irregularities in project execution in Devgadh Baria and Dhanpur talukas. An audit that followed uncovered the fraud, tracing it to Raj Construction and Raj Traders, firms run by Balwant and Kiran Khabad, both of whom had sought anticipatory bail amid mounting evidence. Between 2021 and 2025, villages like Kuva, Redhana, and Simamoi were falsely marked as beneficiaries of completed MGNREGA projects. On the ground, there was little to no work, only forged completion reports and a trail of diverted payments. As the investigation widened, authorities uncovered that 35 material suppliers, 28 from Devgadh Baria and seven from Dhanpur, were involved in routing fake claims with the help of complicit local officials.
