Chhattisgarh Rocked by Brazen Fraud: Scheme Funds Siphoned Using Sunny Leone‘s Name.
In a shocking display of audacity, a fraudster has managed to exploit a Chhattisgarh government scheme meant to support married women, using the name of Bollywood actress Sunny Leone to pocket the funds. The case has sparked a heated political debate in the BJP-ruled state, with the opposition Congress alleging widespread misappropriation of the welfare program.
The incident came to light when bank employees in Talur village, Bastar region, were left bewildered upon discovering a functional account in the name of the famous film personality.
Further investigation revealed that a man named Virendra Joshi had been siphoning off the monthly payments of Rs 1,000 under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, a scheme that provides financial assistance to married women in Chhattisgarh.
The Mahtari Vandan Yojana, touted as a lifeline for many households, has now become the center of a raging controversy after this brazen case of fraud. The bank authorities have now alerted the authorities, suspecting that this might not be an isolated incident, and that there could be more individuals exploiting the system in a similar manner.
Reacting to the revelations, Chhattisgarh’s District Collector Haris S has directed the Women and Child Development Department to launch a comprehensive probe into the matter and seize the fraudulent bank account for recovery.
The case was initially brought to light through media reports, which have now sparked a bitter political battle between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Indian National Congress (INC).
Deepak Baij, the state Congress chief, has gone on the offensive, alleging that more than 50 percent of the beneficiaries under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana are, in fact, fictitious.
Countering the allegations, Chhattisgarh’s Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao has claimed that the Congress is “pained” because the current government has succeeded in providing the much-needed monthly assistance to women, something the previous Congress regime had failed to do.
The Sunny Leone incident has not only exposed the vulnerabilities within the social welfare system but has also ignited a political firestorm in the state.
The unfolding saga serves as a stark reminder of the need for robust mechanisms to ensure the integrity of government schemes and protect the intended beneficiaries from such brazen exploitation.
The political parties must now rise above partisan interests and work together to restore public trust and ensure that the welfare initiatives reach the deserving individuals without any further breach of the system.
