PM-Kisan Nidhi scheme: ₹110 crore scam busted in TN
Coimbatore PM-Kisan Nidhi scheme: ₹110 crore scam busted in TN
The Tamil Nadu government has broken open a scam amounting to about ₹110 crore in the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme. In some districts, ineligible people availed the cash assistance using false information, with the help of government officials and local-level politicians.
The scam first gained attention when the District Collector ordered a probe at Cuddalore district where it was uncovered that more than 100 fake beneficiaries received the aid. Reports say many beneficiaries who registered for the scheme and waited for the assistance were unaware of the scam. The scammers posed as officials and sought their details, saying that the beneficiaries could receive “corona cash” from the government. The scammers then used the login details of agriculture department officials to upload details of eligible farmers in the portal and, in return, they collected money from each ineligible beneficiary to help them avail the scheme.
DMK president, MK Stalin alleged that several crores of rupees have been swindled and Tamil Nadu CM's home district, Salem, alone has taken about ₹4 crore through 10,700 fake farmers. Stalin said ₹4.20 crore had been recovered from fake farmers in Cuddalore district and Villupuram district. He added that the complaints of the scam have arisen in Tiruvannamalai, Perambalur and other districts.
The TN government said the case is being probed by the CB-CID, and 16 persons have been arrested thus far. The TN CM has assured action against those who are involved in the scam. The State Agriculture Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi announced that three officials have been suspended and the government has already procured ₹32 crore till date from the accounts of the accused.
The Tamil Nadu government has broken open a scam amounting to about ₹110 crore in the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme. In some districts, ineligible people availed the cash assistance using false information, with the help of government officials and local-level politicians.
The scam first gained attention when the District Collector ordered a probe at Cuddalore district where it was uncovered that more than 100 fake beneficiaries received the aid. Reports say many beneficiaries who registered for the scheme and waited for the assistance were unaware of the scam. The scammers posed as officials and sought their details, saying that the beneficiaries could receive “corona cash” from the government. The scammers then used the login details of agriculture department officials to upload details of eligible farmers in the portal and, in return, they collected money from each ineligible beneficiary to help them avail the scheme.
DMK president, MK Stalin alleged that several crores of rupees have been swindled and Tamil Nadu CM's home district, Salem, alone has taken about ₹4 crore through 10,700 fake farmers. Stalin said ₹4.20 crore had been recovered from fake farmers in Cuddalore district and Villupuram district. He added that the complaints of the scam have arisen in Tiruvannamalai, Perambalur and other districts.
The TN government said the case is being probed by the CB-CID, and 16 persons have been arrested thus far. The TN CM has assured action against those who are involved in the scam. The State Agriculture Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi announced that three officials have been suspended and the government has already procured ₹32 crore till date from the accounts of the accused.