A significant financial fraud amounting to Rs 4.2 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) has been exposed in the Kej nagar panchayat of Beed district, Maharashtra. The police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against six officials for the alleged misappropriation of housing funds.
FIR Registration and Charges
The case was registered late on Sunday at the Kej police station under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 201, 204, 409, 420, and 34. Beed Superintendent of Police Navneet Kanwat confirmed that the FIR was based on a complaint lodged by Kej nagar panchayat chief officer Ajit Ganpatrao Dhope.
Audit Uncovers Irregularities
According to the complaint, irregularities came to light after an audit conducted by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), Mumbai, on August 13, 2025. The audit revealed that funds exclusively meant for PMAY beneficiaries were illegally diverted to other accounts.
Fund Details
Dhope, who has been serving as chief officer since January 2025, stated that the civic body had received Rs 5.9 crore under PMAY — Rs 3.6 crore from the state government and Rs 2.2 crore from the central government — along with Rs 17.2 lakh as interest between 2019 and January 2022. However, between May 20, 2021, and January 31, 2022, approximately Rs 4.2 crore was allegedly transferred to accounts unrelated to eligible beneficiaries.
Preliminary Report and Investigation
A preliminary report submitted by the nagar panchayat's accountant on November 17, 2025, flagged the irregular transactions and called for a detailed investigation. Subsequently, a special inquiry committee headed by the Ambajogai sub-divisional officer was constituted on January 25, 2026, on the orders of the Beed district collector. The committee submitted its report on April 7, 2026, holding six officials prima facie responsible for misappropriation of government funds.
Accused Officials
The accused include the then chief officer and accountant holding additional charge, a contractual accountant, and three valvemen employed by the civic body. The inquiry found that cheques carried joint signatures of the then chief officer and accountant, while several financial records were missing, suggesting possible destruction of evidence.
Further Suspicion
Investigators also found that funds were transferred into the personal bank accounts of some employees apart from their salaries, raising further suspicion of their involvement. Based on the inquiry report, the district collector ordered the registration of a criminal case on April 10, 2026, after which Dhope approached the police on April 15.
Demand for Comprehensive Probe
Meanwhile, Shetkari Kamgar Paksha leader Mohan Gund has demanded a comprehensive probe into the scam, alleging the involvement of more officials and calling for strict action following a thorough investigation.
