BuzzBytes November 29, 2023, 07:32 IST
In a startling revelation, former Gujarat-cadre IAS officer B D Ninama has been arrested in Dahod district for his alleged involvement in running six fake government offices, diverting grants worth Rs 18.6 crore. The arrest follows the exposure of a scam orchestrated by conman Sandeep Rajput and his accomplices, involving impersonation and misappropriation of funds meant for irrigation-related projects.
A local court in Dahod has remanded Ninama to six days in police custody until December 4. The inquiry, triggered by a police complaint, identified six bogus offices that siphoned funds between February 2018 and March 2023. The offices, posing as various executive engineering divisions, received over 100 contracts and misappropriated tribal grants.
The elaborate scam, involving the creation of fake offices, submission of project estimates, and approval by Ninama, has raised serious concerns about the misuse of government funds. The police have invoked multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including forgery, cheating, and criminal conspiracy.
The investigation, stemming from the Chhota Udepur case, exposed a similar operation in Dahod. The accused, including Ninama, Rajput, and accomplices, exploited loopholes between 2018 and 2023, diverting substantial amounts intended for tribal welfare projects.
Ninama, who took voluntary retirement in February, faces arrest based on evidence connecting him to the impostors behind the fake offices. The police allege that government grants meant for tribals were funneled directly into the bank accounts of these bogus offices.
As the case unfolds, questions arise about the efficacy of checks and balances within the administrative system, emphasizing the need for robust measures to prevent such fraudulent activities in the future.
