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Time of India
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Congress demands SIT probe into MNREGA, Nal Se Jal ‘scams'
Gandhinagar : A Congress delegation on Friday submitted a memorandum to Governor Acharya Devvrat in Gandhinagar, demanding a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into alleged irregularities in the MNREGA scheme and corruption in the implementation of the Nal Se Jal scheme. The delegation also demanded the removal of state minister Bachu Khabad, citing the arrest of his family members in connection with the MNREGA scam in Dahod district. Led by Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Amit Chavda, the delegation informed the Governor that although FIRs have been filed regarding irregularities in Dahod's MNREGA projects, similar complaints from Panchmahal district have gone unaddressed. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad They also alleged that govt figures on piped water connections under the Nal Se Jal scheme were inflated, with several households still awaiting connections. "In our memorandum, we have demanded an SIT investigation into all development works completed under both the MNREGA and Nal Se Jal schemes in the state," Chavda said.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Time of India
Amid probe, officials scrutinizing 2,600 NREGA works in Dahod
Vadodara: Some 2,600 NREGA works in Devgadh Baria and Dhanpur talukas of Dahod district, for which agencies that were not the lowest bidders supplied material, are being scrutinized to ascertain the extent of irregularities. The Rs 71 crore NREGA scam has sparked a political controversy as the sons of the state's junior minister for panchayats, Bachu Khabad, have been accused. They were arrested and sent to judicial custody. While the sons, Balwant Khabad and Kiran Khabad, were granted bail in the Rs 71 crore case, they were arrested later for similar scams in two other villages and are in judicial custody. In all, 32 agencies that supplied material for NREGA works in the Devgadh Baria and Dhanpur talukas have been named in the FIR for the Rs 71 crore scam. The proprietors of four agencies, including the Khabad brothers, were accused and arrested. The owners of the other 28 agencies have been questioned and documents have been taken from them but none have been arrested so far. Dahod superintendent of police Rajdeepsinh Zala said the remaining agencies were also under investigation. "The district development officer (DDO) also ordered an inquiry and verification of works is being conducted," he said. DDO S S Lodha said all works where material was used from agencies that were not the lowest bidders (L1) were being verified. "Teams are in the field to check 2,600-odd works included in the Rs 71 crore case. They will verify the extent to which work was done on the ground," he said. Lodha said te supply of material when the agencies were not the lowest bidders was itself not proper, but if the works were incomplete or not taken up it would be a serious offence. A full verification of the works is expected to make the case stronger. Meanwhile, an organization called the Sarpanch Council of Gujarat asked that the probe into NREGA works in Devgadh Baria and Dhanpur talukas of Dahod district be suspended. It submitted a memorandum demanding suspension of the probe to the district development officer. The organization argued that it was not proper to verify old works, from 2020-21 onwards, as many may have been damaged by rain. They also alleged that payments to unqualified agencies were cleared by officials at the district level and the officials should also be investigated. The memorandum said that the movement of officials in large numbers to verify works was 'creating an atmosphere of fear'. Balwant Khabad and Kiran Khabad — the sons of Gujarat minister of state for panchayats and agriculture Bachu Khabad — were denied bail by a magisterial court in Dahod in connection with two cases against them regarding NREGA works. These cases were registered after the court granted them bail in the Rs 71 crore NREGA scam case. Kiran was arrested in a case for a Rs 18.41 lakh NREGA scam, regarding works at Lavariya village in Devgadh Baria taluka, while Balwant was arrested for a Rs 33 lakh scam pertaining to Bhanpur in Dhanpur taluka.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Time of India
Dahod court grants bail to minister's sons in MNREGA scam
Vadodara: The Dahod chief judicial magistrate's court on Wednesday granted bail to Balwant Khabad and Kiran Khabad, sons of minister of state for agriculture and panchayat Bachu Khabad, in connection with the ongoing MNREGA scam. However, the court is expected to deliver the final verdict on Thursday after considering additional material presented by the investigating officer (IO). Balwant and Kiran, linked to two firms that supplied materials for MNREGA works without securing official contracts, were arrested on May 17 and May 19 respectively. Both were remanded to judicial custody before filing their bail applications last week. While the court granted bail on Wednesday, the IO requested more time to submit further evidence. The hearing will continue on Thursday before the court issues its final decision. The scam, unearthed in a probe by District Rural Development Authority (DRDA), involved illegible firms being given orders for the supply of materials for MNREGA works.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
NREGA scam: Four sent to judicial custody
Vadodara: Four accused person, including the sons of Gujarat minister of state for agriculture and panchayats, Bachu Khabad, held in the NREGA scam, were sent to judicial custody by a Dahod court on Wednesday and Thursday after their police custody ended. Khabad's elder son, Balwant, and taluka development officer (TDO) Darshit Patel, who was earlier posted in Dahod district, were presented in court on Wednesday after their remand ended. Both were sent to judicial custody by the court. On Thursday, the minister's younger son, Kiran, and in-charge deputy district development officer, Rasik Rathwa, were presented in court by police after their remand period ended. Both were sent to judicial custody. So far, 14 persons have been arrested in connection with the scam worth Rs 71 crore, and nine of them are in judicial custody. Agencies that did not bag contracts for supplying material for NREGA works were given orders, and their bills were paid. It also came to light that works taken up using this material remained incomplete. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Khabad says Congress targeting him over NREGA scam
Vadodara: Gujarat minister of state for agriculture and panchayats, Bachu Khabad, has finally reacted to the Rs 71 crore MNREGA scam, hitting out at the Congress party for targeting him. Khabad's sons, Balwant and Kiran, are accused of siphoned off Rs 30.04 crore between 2021-22 and 2023-24. Khabad, who did not react to his sons' arrests and or make a public appearance after their names cropped up, made a recorded statement and released it to the media. Khabad said the Congress had made allegations of corruption for six months now. He added that Congress tried to target him and even moved the high court but was not successful. Khabad said he had complete trust in the govt and the administration. He said he would accept whatever decision they arrived at. Khabad said he has been in politics for 25 years and has never faced allegations. He added that even after he became a minister, there were no corruption allegations against him.
