Ahmadabad, May 18: Gujarat Minister Bachubhai Khabad's son, Balvant Khabad, was arrested for his alleged involvement in a Rs 71 crore MGNREGA scam where some contracted agencies received payments from the government without finishing work or supplying goods.
Police also arrested the then Taluka Development Officer Darshan Patel in Dahod district, taking the number of persons held so far to seven.
Bachubhai Khabad, who represents the Devgadhbariya constituency, is a Minister of State for Panchayat and Agriculture.
The alleged scam involved owners of 35 agencies in connivance with government officials siphoning off Rs 71 crore between 2021 and 2024 by producing bogus work completion certificates and other evidence to get the payment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme.
Further investigation is underway.
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