Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami’s sister, along with her mother-in-law and other relatives, have been accused of fraud linked to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), news agency PTI reported.
A district-level investigation uncovered irregularities in wage disbursement under MNREGA, implicating multiple individuals, including Shami’s family members. At the center of the controversy is Gule Ayesha, the mother-in-law of Shami’s sister and the current village head of Amroha.
District Magistrate (DM) Nidhi Gupta Vats confirmed on Wednesday that a preliminary inquiry had found evidence of fraudulent MNREGA payments. Authorities have ordered the suspension of implicated workers, the registration of a police case, and departmental action under the Panchayati Raj Act.
“The investigation revealed that 18 individuals received MNREGA wages without performing any work. Those named include Shami’s sister Shabina, her husband Ghaznavi, and her brothers-in-law Aamir Suhail, Nasruddin, and Shekhu, along with the sons and daughters of village head Gule Ayesha,” said the DM.
Officials found that these fraudulent wage payments were recorded in MNREGA job cards from January 2021, with funds being disbursed into bank accounts until August 2024-25. The district administration has now ordered the recovery of misappropriated funds and the freezing of Gram Pradhan’s accounts.
The inquiry was initiated following media reports exposing the scam. Investigators suspect the involvement of the then Village Development Officer (VDO), Assistant Programme Officer (APO), an operator, and other officials close to the village head. Further probe is underway.
Meanwhile, Shami is currently competing in the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He recently returned to international cricket in the home series against England after a long injury layoff and was a key player in India’s ICC Champions Trophy victory over New Zealand.
With inputs from PTI