An internal investigation by the Betul district administration in Madhya Pradesh has revealed embezzlement and financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 13.21 crore in the implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) scheme in Bhimpur and Chicholi Janpad Panchayats.
Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural), a centrally sponsored scheme, is administered at the district level in Betul, a tribal dominated district in southern Madhya Pradesh, by the District Panchayat and implemented through Janpad and Gram Panchayats. Activities under the scheme include the construction of toilets, garbage carts, soak pits, composting units, and other waste management infrastructure.
Payments are processed via the Public Financial Management System (PFMS), with funds transferred to Gram Panchayats, implementation agencies, or beneficiaries after technical and administrative approval.
On March 6, discrepancies were found in payments made to Rajendra Singh Parihar, a block coordinator of the scheme, prompting the Collector and the CEO of the District Panchayat to order an investigation. The CEO of Bhimpur Janpad Panchayat conducted a formal inquiry, while verbal directions were given to the CEO of Chicholi Janpad Panchayat to look into similar issues during Parihar’s posting there.
According to investigators, during his tenure in Chicholi (November 2, 2021 to March 5, 2025) and Bhimpur (January 31, 2023 to October 24, 2024), Parihar allegedly facilitated unauthorised payments amounting to Rs 13,21,71,220.
A scrutiny of bank transfers revealed that the payments were made to a construction firm, an auto firm and bank accounts based in Indore and Waraseoni, according to the investigation.
The probe also showed that no work related to these payments was carried out in Betul district, no technical or administrative approvals were issued, and no related documents were maintained in the office.
The district administration has alleged that Parihar employed the use of two computer operators to misuse the “digital signature certificate” of the CEO for the Swachh Bharat Mission scheme “without the permission or knowledge of the CEO, possibly from a location outside the Janpad Panchayat offices, to facilitate unauthorised and fraudulent financial transactions”.
Betul Superintendent of Police Nishchal N Jhariya told that Parihar is absconding and that an FIR was registered on March 19 against 12 persons under sections related to cheating.
“Parihar is absconding in this case. We have not arrested anyone, and an SIT is looking through government records to make a watertight case. There is a possibility that more government officials will be made accused in the case and the amount (of money involved) may also increase,” the SP said.
Betul Collector Narendra Kumar Suryavanshi acknowledged that the accused had taken advantage of some loopholes. “The digital signature certificate was misused, and when the amount was siphoned off, we did not receive any OTP alerts,” Suryavanshi told The Indian Express.
Suryavanshi said the government has begun monthly reviews of all development works carried out in the district. “We have already initiated disciplinary action against the accused. His property has been identified, and we will recover the stolen amount. Furthermore, we are plugging the loopholes. All digital signatures will be secured in pendrives by officials, and a monitoring team is reviewing all development work to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” he said.
