Two individuals, including an agriculture department employee, have been arrested in Hyderabad for allegedly misappropriating Rs 2 crore intended for beneficiaries of two pro-farmer government schemes in Telangana, police said on Monday.
According to Cyberabad Police Commissioner Avinash Mohanty, an agriculture extension officer and his accomplice, a cab driver in Ranga Reddy district, created 20 fake claims under the ‘Rythu Bima’ life insurance scheme, as PTI reported.
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They also allegedly diverted an additional Rs 1 crore from the ‘Rythu Bandhu’ crop investment support scheme through 130 people who were not eligible for the benefits.
The case was filed based on a complaint from the Ranga Reddy district agriculture officer. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the prime accused gathered data from the chief commissioner of land administration (CCLA) through ‘Rythu Bima’ and ‘Rythu Bandhu’ portals with the help of the Pattadar Pass Book (PPB).
During the course of the investigation, the police arrested two individuals on February 25.
The accused submitted fake claims for individuals who were not eligible, such as those over 60 years old or already deceased. They entered this information in CCLA through the Rythu Bima portal, using false names and Aadhaar numbers instead of the original landowner’s details.
Following the enrollment, the accused applied for death claims by providing a nominee’s name and bank account number, along with forged or fake death certificates. They managed to deposit the insurance amount in nine different bank accounts.
Similarly, the accused falsely claimed and benefited from ‘Rythu Bandhu’ for 130 individuals who were not eligible.
The main accused held multiple bank accounts under the name of his accomplice, the cab driver. Using the diverted funds, he purchased properties, including agricultural land and an open plot, in his wife’s name.