Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule has accused the Maharashtra government of a massive ₹4,800 crore financial fraud in the implementation of the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a welfare scheme targeting economically disadvantaged women.
Addressing the media in Pune on Sunday, Sule claimed that the fraud involves extensive manipulation of beneficiary data, ghost entries, and a mismatch in allocation and disbursement records. “This is not just financial mismanagement—it is systemic exploitation of public funds meant for women’s empowerment,” she said.
‘Welfare for Votes’ Turned into Scam, Alleges Sule
The Ladki Bahin Yojana, announced earlier this year, is a flagship initiative of the Eknath Shinde-led government, intended to provide ₹1,500 per month to eligible women aged 21 to 60 from low-income households. According to Sule, the scheme’s database contains duplicate beneficiaries, ineligible entries, and unverified Aadhaar linkages.
“There are women who have not even applied, but show up as registered and receiving funds,” she said, presenting what she described as preliminary evidence sourced through RTI applications and whistleblowers. Sule demanded the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a thorough audit.
Government Yet to Respond Officially
While there has been no official comment from the Maharashtra government, political tensions have escalated. Sule criticised Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for “maintaining silence” and called upon the Governor and Enforcement Directorate to take cognisance.
This development has brought fresh scrutiny to direct benefit transfer (DBT) schemes in the state, where transparency, Aadhaar validation, and third-party verification have often been points of concern.
Political observers suggest that the allegation may become a flashpoint in the coming state elections, where welfare schemes are expected to be a central issue.
Sule also stated that she would raise the matter in Parliament and demand central oversight. “Accountability for women’s rights and public money cannot be negotiable,” she concluded.