A major irregularity has come to light under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Kaitha village of Gangev Janpad Panchayat in Rewa district, where an RTI activist's identity was allegedly misused to show fictitious employment without any work being executed.

The case involves fabrication of muster rolls in the name of Shivanand Dwivedi, a local RTI and social activist from Kaitha, for a pond construction project on his own land that never took off. Following a detailed probe, the MGNREGA cell of the district panchayat has held the village panchayat secretary and two engineers guilty of financial irregularities.

Complaint Triggers Probe

Dwivedi had received technical approval for construction of a farm pond on his land under MGNREGA during the financial year 2023-24, with an estimated cost exceeding ₹3.85 lakh. However, when no work began despite the sanction, he approached the Chief Minister's Helpline on May 21, 2025, seeking early commencement of the project.

Instead of initiating the work, officials allegedly created fake muster rolls under job card entries bearing muster roll numbers 9296, 9298, and 9299, showing that Dwivedi himself had been provided 20 days of employment. The portal even reflected a payment of ₹42.28 credited to his account with ₹1,617.36 shown as pending.

No Evidence of Work on Ground

District MGNREGA Accounts Officer Yogendra Pandey conducted the inquiry. During the investigation, the then panchayat secretary failed to produce any supporting documents such as attendance photos, demand applications, or signed muster rolls from the worksite. Site verification confirmed that no construction activity had taken place at the location.

Shockingly, the assistant engineer and junior engineer had still processed the online evaluation and verification of the work through the e-MB (electronic Measurement Book) system, marking it as complete. The probe report described this as serious negligence and financial misconduct.

Officials Held Guilty

The 31-page investigation report submitted to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Zila Panchayat has held three officials responsible:

- Mahesh Patel, Secretary, Gram Panchayat Kaitha

- Praveen Pandey, then Junior Engineer

- Nikhil Mishra, then Assistant Engineer

The report has strongly recommended statutory and departmental action against them.

Impact on MGNREGA Implementation

This latest exposure has created ripples across Rewa’s rural development department. MGNREGA, which guarantees 100 days of wage employment to rural households, has often faced criticism in various parts of Madhya Pradesh over issues of fake job cards, ghost beneficiaries, and inflated measurements.

For Shivanand Dwivedi, the matter is particularly ironic. As an RTI activist, he has been raising questions on local governance for years. Using his name without consent for fictitious work has raised serious concerns about data security and misuse of Aadhaar-linked job cards in the scheme.

Local Reactions

Villagers in Kaitha expressed surprise over the development. Many said such irregularities erode trust in a scheme meant to provide livelihood security to the poorest. Some demanded strict action so that genuine beneficiaries do not suffer due to such scams.

What Lies Ahead

The Zila Panchayat CEO is expected to take a final call on the recommended action soon. Officials indicated that recovery of any wrongly shown payments and suspension or major penalties against the guilty officers are likely.

The case once again highlights the need for stronger ground-level monitoring, use of geo-tagging, and regular social audits in MGNREGA works to prevent recurrence of such frauds.

Rewa MGNREGA Fraud: Farmer Builds Pond, Wage Sent to Anganwadi Worker

Fake Master Roll Case

A major MGNREGA scam has surfaced in Rewa district’s Gram Panchayat Ketha. A farmer built his own farm pond with his family’s labour. But the Panchayat Secretary allegedly prepared a fake master roll. Consequently, Rs 4,694 was credited to an Anganwadi worker’s account without any work.

CM Helpline Uncovers Fraud

The matter came to light after a complaint on the CM Helpline. The complainant, Shivam Dwivedi, alleged irregularity in wage payments. Officials said a probe team verified the documents and site records. Their findings confirmed a clear mismatch between actual workers and the payment list.

Family Did the Work

The sanctioned work was pond construction on Murli Patel’s farmland. Patel and his family members completed the entire excavation themselves. No external labourers were hired for the job. Villagers confirmed this fact during the inquiry. However, the Panchayat Secretary named Ramvati Saket, an Anganwadi worker, as a beneficiary.

Worker Admits No Involvement

During questioning, Ramvati Saket clearly stated she never worked at the site. She told the probe team she had no knowledge of the payment. Local residents also supported her claim. The investigation report noted that 18 days of fake wages were credited to her account.

Secretary’s Role Under Scanner

Officials said Panchayat Secretary Mahesh Patel approved the payment without verification. The rules mandate physical measurement and muster roll authentication before any disbursal. Sources indicated the secretary bypassed all these steps. His role is now termed “highly suspicious” in internal reports.

Recovery Recommended

The probe team has declared the entire amount recoverable from the responsible person. As per officials, the money was paid against a work that never employed the named worker. The CEO of Janpad Panchayat, Gangew, has forwarded the report to senior authorities. A final decision on disciplinary action is awaited.

What Next in the Case

Higher officials are reviewing the report for possible criminal proceedings. The district administration may also order a wider audit of MGNREGA works in the block. An India news update suggests action could include suspension and recovery from the secretary’s salary. Public interest in the case remains high as more villagers come forward with similar complaints. Trending news India today highlights such frauds as a threat to rural job guarantee schemes. According to latest news today, strict instructions have been sought from the state rural development department.