PM-Kisan Yojana Scam: Rs 2.25 crore Recovered from Ineligible Farmers’ Accounts; Crime Branch-CID Arrests Woman

The authorities in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai district have recovered Rs. 2.25 crore from ineligible accounts of farmers who were registered under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana also known as PM-KISAN scheme. The Crime Branch-CID has arrested a woman heading a SHG (self-help group) in connection with the irregularities.

Senior level authorities of Agriculture & Revenue departments started the inquiry following the irregularities in registration and disbursal of cash under PM-KISAN yojana came to light recently.

Over 32,000 accounts were of farmers who were not eligible to get the financial support from the Centre. Therefore, the process to recover the cash from their accounts was started.

Tiruvannamalai district collector KS Kandasamy said “Rs. 2.25 crore cash has been recovered from ineligible accounts”. He said, “All the cash transfer made into the account since April 1 have been subjected to inspection to find how much cash was received by the ineligible farmers.”

The bank authorities have blocked the accounts of the suspected farmers so that they cannot withdraw cash.

The field-level officials of Agriculture & Revenue departments have been visiting those cultivators who run out balance in their account to encourage them to return the cash received under PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana.

According to a senior officer, in Vellore, Ranipet and Tirupathur districts, it was found that around 10,000 ineligible accounts were opened to avail of the cash benefit. So far, Rs. 35 lakh has been recovered from these accounts.

On the other hand, the CB-CID has arrested a woman who was heading a SHG in connection with the scam. She was presented before a local court and then remanded to judicial custody.

Irregularities in PM-Kisan scheme have been reported in 13 districts that includes Cuddalore, Villupuram and Kallakurichy. Local authorities of Agriculture department & data entry operators have allegedly conspired with farmers to enrol ineligible people to take financial advantages.