Vadodara: Police have booked 71 people including sarpanches, TDOs, talati-cum-secretaries of Malu, Jorapura, and Palla gram panchayats in Ghoghamba taluka in Godhra. The complaint alleges that duplicate job cards were created under the MGNREGA scheme, resulting in the malpractice of Rs 80 lakh.

The fraudulent activity occurred in three different village panchayats in Ghoghamba taluka between 2009 and 2014. K P Parghi, the TDO of Ghoghamba, filed three separate complaints regarding the fraud after an investigation revealed around 1857 duplicate job cards.

Two complaints were registered at the Damavav police station. One complaint stated that 779 duplicate job cards were created to embezzle Rs 38,26,645, while the other complaint stated that 721 duplicate job cards were used to commit fraud of Rs 28,84,589.

The third complaint was filed at the Rajgadh police station, which alleged the creation of 357 duplicate MNREGA cards in Jorapura village, resulting in a loss of Rs 12,94,222.

The 71 accused also include five sarpanches and five taluka development officers (TDO). DeshGujarat