Jhansi: Fresh layers of fraud in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) have come to light, with crooks allegedly exploiting land records of the Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority (BIDA) to embezzle funds. Approximately Rs 4.26 crore was siphoned off using fake entries related to BIDA land spanning around 67 acres. Shockingly, even officials responsible for verification failed to detect the irregularities. The majority of fraudulent cases were reported in villages under BIDA, including Dagarwah and Bajna. Over 2,300 land plot numbers (khasras) were manipulated, with insurance claims credited to more than 250 accounts. Authorities have confirmed that an investigation is underway, and recovery along with FIR registration will follow upon confirmation of the fraud.
Fake Land Records Facilitated the Scam
The scam exploited the PMFBY, with conspirators in collusion with insurance company employees and local officials claiming crop insurance for individuals who did not own cultivable land. Fake land records (khatonis) were used extensively to bypass standard verification. Documents revealed that land for which BIDA had already provided compensation two years ago was being repeatedly used to claim fresh insurance benefits. Villages like Dagarwah and Bajna showed the highest incidence of such manipulations.
Extent of Fraud in Key Villages
In Dagarwah, 314 fake land entries were used to claim Rs 3.29 crore, while in Bajna, 444 government record numbers were manipulated across 94 accounts, resulting in the embezzlement of Rs 1.26 crore using 1,312 plot numbers. Further scrutiny revealed that nearly double the number of insurance claims were made relative to actual plots. Other villages under BIDA, including Bemer, Imlia, Bachhauni, Baidora, Basai, Parasai, and Amarpur, are also suspected to have similar irregularities, though the total embezzled amount is yet to be determined. Deputy Director of Agriculture, Mahendra Pal Singh, confirmed that tehsil-level investigations are ongoing, and action will be taken against those involved.
Verification Failures and Administrative Lapses
Under PMFBY, insurance claims are usually validated by village-level officials (lekhpals) and the insurance company, which cross-checks the submitted documents with registered land records before releasing funds. Despite this, the fraudulent claims went undetected, raising questions about the role of verification personnel.
Insurance Payments to 20,000 Farmers Put on Hold
The exposure of this scam has caused immediate disruption in the agriculture department. Insurance claims for the Kharif season intended for 20,000 farmers have been temporarily withheld, pending verification. These claims were processed through Common Service Centers (CSCs), which were previously flagged by Amar Ujala for potential fraudulent activity. Initial investigations indicate that 10,000 cases are suspicious, mainly involving misuse of land records. Deputy Director Mahendra Pal Singh noted that Kisan Credit Card (KCC) holders numbering 67,000 have already received their claims, with pending disbursements to follow after thorough investigation. The current Kharif season recorded losses for 87,000 farmers.
