Rs 16 crore scam at Nanded tribal project office, 280 cheques diverted

A major financial scam linked to the Integrated Tribal Development Project office in Kinwat, Nanded district, has come to light, causing a stir across Marathwada. Government funds meant for tribal development have allegedly been embezzled to the tune of about Rs 16.37 crore. Most strikingly, the money was not siphoned off through one or two transactions but through 280 cheques transferred directly into the accounts of private individuals, businessmen and other non-government account holders.

According to the allegations, people whose accounts were used were given an unusual offer: take the cheque, encash it through your account, and get a commission of Rs 1,000 in return. In this way, the bank accounts of educated unemployed persons, labourers and other unsuspecting people were allegedly used to misappropriate a total of Rs 16,37,66,912.

The case spans a two-year period between April 1, 2024 and September 16, 2026. During this time, government funds, chequebooks and bank accounts were allegedly misused illegally to encash 280 cheques. A case has been registered against senior clerk Bhagwan Uddhavrao Dawre, who is currently reported to be absconding. Police are searching for him as his mobile phone is switched off. A probe into just seven bank accounts has revealed deposits of Rs 3.72 crore, including large sums such as Rs 75 lakh, Rs 70 lakh and Rs 56 lakh. Lured by a commission of just Rs 1,000, several youths and relatives got caught in the trap.

Questions are being raised over how a single clerk could encash 280 cheques without approval from higher authorities, when cheques above Rs 25,000 to 30,000 in a government office normally require the signatures and scrutiny of three or four senior officers. Three IAS officers, Meghna Kawali, Jinit Dontula and B. Saravanan, were posted at this office during the three years from 2024 to 2026. Two audits were also conducted during this period, raising questions over why such a large scam was not detected earlier. Questions are also being raised over why bank officials did not make any inquiries while crores of rupees were being transferred by cheque from a government account to private and unknown individuals.

The scam came to light after Assistant Collector B. Saravanan brought the matter to the attention of Collector Rahul Kardile. Local residents and tribal organisations say that action against just one clerk may be an attempt to suppress the wider case.

Police Inspector Uday Khanderay of the Economic Offences Wing and Police Inspector Jagdish Mandalwar of Kinwat police station are currently investigating the case in depth. The entire district is watching to see which other senior officials of the tribal department and the bank come under the scanner as the investigation proceeds.