ED Seizes ₹5.37 Crore Assets in Bhopal Marriage Assistance Scheme Scam
The Enforcement Directorate has seized assets worth ₹5.37 crore linked to a marriage assistance scheme scam in Bhopal.
Bhopal, October 30 (Daily Kiran) : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has confiscated assets worth ₹5.37 crore linked to alleged financial irregularities in a government marriage assistance scheme in Madhya Pradesh. This action targets the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Sironj Panchayat, Shobhit Tripathi, and his associate Hemant Sahu.
An ED official stated that the seizure order was issued following an investigation into the scheme, which took place between 2019 and 2021. During a prior search, crucial documents related to the case were recovered.
Tripathi was arrested on September 2 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and is currently in judicial custody. The asset seizure order was also issued under the PMLA, as part of an investigation into the fraudulent distribution of government funds within the marriage assistance program.
The scheme, initiated by the Madhya Pradesh government, aimed to provide ₹51,000 in financial support to the wives of registered poor construction workers. Allegations suggest that from 2019 to November 2021, Tripathi approved and disbursed ₹30.18 crore in government funds across 5,923 suspicious marriage assistance cases in collaboration with others.
This investigation began based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Bhopal against Tripathi and others. The FIR includes charges under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The ED’s findings revealed that ineligible beneficiaries submitted fake application forms and documents to exploit the scheme. Bank accounts were opened in the names of these ineligible individuals without their knowledge, solely to facilitate the transfer of funds, which were subsequently withdrawn in cash multiple times.
Additionally, the agency noted that during the COVID-19 lockdown, when public weddings were prohibited, benefits were still granted to individuals who did not qualify for the assistance.
