A man in Chhattisgarh allegedly opened an account in the name of actress Sunny Leone and has been pocketing the sum of Rs 1,000 deposited into it every month under a Chhattisgarh government scheme for married women. This shocking case of fraud has been reported from Talur village in the state's Bastar region.
The accused has been identified as Virendra Joshi, and a case is being registered against him for further action, NDTV reported on Monday.
Officials responsible for verification of eligible beneficiaries of the scheme are also being identified, as per the report.
The Mahtari Vandan Yojana, a scheme launched by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in the state, provides Rs 1,000 every month to married women in Chhattisgarh. The amount is directly deposited into their bank accounts.
This incident has brought to light the alleged lapses in the implementation of the welfare scheme, raising questions about the verification process and accountability of the officials involved.
District Collector Haris S has asked the Women and Child Development Department to carry out an in-depth probe into this matter and seize the bank account for recovery. According to officials, media reports had drawn their attention to this case of alleged fraud.
The revelation has sparked a heated exchange between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress.
State Congress chief Deepak Baij has alleged that over 50% of beneficiaries under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana are fake. Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao retorted, saying that the Congress is pained because women of the state are now receiving the monthly assistance that the grand old party could not provide during its term in power.
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