Fake job cards: MGNREGA contractor among 2 booked

Gurugram, February 10

The Nuh police have booked two persons, including a contractor, for allegedly embezzling over Rs 12 lakh from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme by making fake job cards.

As per the allegations, the suspects, along with panchayat officials, made about 7,500 fake job cards, including that of minors. Following a court order, the case was registered on Friday.

According to the complaint filed by Naseem Ahamad of Aterna Shamshabad, contractor Nijam alias Nijju, a resident of the same village, had started working on a contractual basis with the Panchayat Department in 2016.

In the complaint, it has been stated that before the job, Nijam’s financial condition was not good. “He, along with his relative Saddam Hussain, made about 7,500 fake job cards under the MGNREGA scheme. They also made fake job cards of children and their family members,” according to the complaint.

“Both the suspects made fake job cards and got the bank accounts of workers opened in Cooperative Bank at Ferozepur Jhirka and Nagina. In connivance with officials of the Panchayat Department, the suspects also worked under the MNREGA scheme in surrounding villages, including in the Nagina block. Only in Aterna Shamshabad village, they have embezzled over Rs 12 lakh through fake job cards. They also committed a fraud amounting crores of rupees by hiring fake labourers under the MGNREGA scheme,” Naseem said in his complaint.