LUCKNOW: A CBI court in Lucknow has sentenced a former village head and a fair price shopkeeper to ten years of rigorous imprisonment for defrauding the government of over ₹1 crore under the Sampurna Grameen Rozgar Yojna (SGRY).
Two Convicted in SGRY Misappropriation Case
A special CBI court in Lucknow has convicted two accused, Satya Narayan Prasad Patel, former village pradhan, and Shahnawaj Alam, a fair price shopkeeper (kotedar) for defrauding the government exchequer of more than ₹1 crore under the Sampurna Grameen Rozgar Yojna (SGRY).
The court sentenced both men to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) and imposed a total fine of ₹55,000. The judgment was delivered on 11 December 2025, concluding a case that dates back nearly two decades.
Fraud Worth Over ₹1 Crore Detected
According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the accused misappropriated government funds and food grains by falsifying records and preparing forged documents under the SGRY scheme.
The total loss to the government was estimated at ₹65 lakh in cash and food grains worth ₹45.26 lakh, bringing the combined wrongful loss to over ₹1 crore. The funds and supplies meant for rural employment and food distribution were allegedly diverted for personal gain.
Case Originated in Ballia, Taken Over by CBI
The case originated from Case Crime No. 34/2006 at Narhi Police Station in Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh. On 31 October 2008, the CBI took over the investigation, registering a case against 172 accused persons involved in the fraudulent disbursement of SGRY funds.
The Sampurna Grameen Rozgar Yojna, launched by the Government of India in 2001, aimed to provide additional wage employment in rural areas and improve community assets. The Ballia case revealed extensive irregularities in implementation, including manipulation of muster rolls and ghost beneficiaries.
Chargesheet Filed Against Three Officials
Following a detailed investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet on 10 November 2010 against three individuals —
- Satyendra Singh Gangwar, then Chief Finance and Accounts Officer, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Ballia
- Satya Narayan Prasad Patel, then Village Pradhan
- Shahnawaj Alam, then Fair Price Shopkeeper (Kotedar)
The charges included cheating, criminal conspiracy, and forgery under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Prevention of Corruption Act.
One Accused Acquitted by Court
After examining the evidence and witness testimonies, the Hon’ble CBI Court, Lucknow, convicted Patel and Alam while acquitting Satyendra Singh Gangwar of all charges. The court held that there was insufficient evidence to establish Gangwar’s involvement in the conspiracy or embezzlement.
The two convicted accused were found guilty of orchestrating and executing fraudulent transactions that caused significant financial loss to the government.
CBI Welcomes the Verdict
A CBI spokesperson confirmed the convictions and stated that the agency remains committed to pursuing accountability in cases involving rural development and welfare funds. The agency emphasised that corruption in schemes intended for the rural poor undermines both governance and social trust.
The verdict, delivered after years of investigation and judicial proceedings, marks a significant outcome in one of the state’s long-pending rural employment fraud cases.
