A significant fraud case involving crores of rupees has been exposed in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Authorities halted the disbursement of insurance claims amounting to nearly Rs 9 crore, citing violations of established norms. The Agriculture Minister’s intervention stopped the process, causing panic within the banking system.
Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena visited a State Bank branch in Pallu, Hanumangarh, to investigate irregularities related to the crop insurance scheme. During the inspection, the Branch Manager was unable to produce the required crop inspection records for 162 insured farmers, raising suspicions. The minister expressed concern over the issuance of insurance policies without mandatory documents, alleging a potential massive fraud under the guise of a government welfare scheme.
The minister accused bank employees, insurance companies, and a larger network of collusion, labeling it a “mafia” operation. He revealed that individuals claiming to be farmers and beneficiaries were not local residents but hailed from various distant places. The minister highlighted discrepancies in revenue records, indicating that many beneficiaries did not own agricultural land as claimed, raising questions about the legitimacy of the insurance claims.
