Shaadi Mubarak fraud: more skeletons tumble out

Mohd. Taheruddin, Minorities Welfare Department official arrested recently, is charged with clearing applications without verifying facts

More skeletons are likely to tumble out of closet in Shaadi Mubarak fraud as Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), investigating the case, has stumbled upon fresh evidence.

Recently, the ACB officials arrested Mohd. Taheruddin, working as a senior assistant in Minorities Welfare Department in Ranga Reddy district, for allegedly siphoning off money from the Shaadi Mubarak scheme.

Random check

An inquiry was ordered by ACB Director General A.K. Khan to verify the details of the beneficiaries following allegations that the scheme was being misused. Investigating officials randomly selected some files relating to beneficiaries in each district.

The main charge against Taheruddin was that he had cleared the applications without verifying the facts. His role was crucial since he was the verification officer.

In one case relating to Sultana Begum of Saroornagar, who was shown as a beneficiary of the Shaadi Mubarak scheme, Mr. Taheruddin stated that he had visited her house and found that her claims were correct.

“It was shocking when Ms. Begum told us that she had never applied for the scheme claiming Rs. 50,000 given to a bride,” ACB investigators told The Hindu . But they believe Taheruddin alone was not involved in this.

The government deposits money in the beneficiary’s account.

In Ms. Begum’s case, the bank account was opened by some other woman in her name. “We have to question the bank authorities as to how they allowed an account to be opened in Ms. Begum’s name when she has never gone there,” the ACB officials said.

Every applicant has to submit income certificate to avail the benefit. While Ms. Begum told the ACB authorities that she never applied for the income certificate, an original income certificate was found with the application in her name in the Minorities Welfare Department office.

“It suggests that the concerned Village Revenue Officer, who should physically visit the house of income-certificate applicant, has done something wrong. It is yet to be ascertained if his role was confined to this case,” say the investigators.

It is suspected that the masterminds behind Shaadi Mubarak fraud had used some impostors to open bank accounts and secure certificates.

They had even fabricated documents like ‘Nikanama’. ACB officials are digging further into the scam to identify the persons who aided and abetted Taheruddin.