₹4.95 crore welfare grant embezzled at Gandhinagar Secretariat, probe ordered

A major scandal involving the alleged embezzlement of ₹4.95 crore in government welfare funds has been uncovered at the Old Secretariat in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

According to sources, the irregularities originated from an office in Block No. 16, where funds earmarked for the welfare of underprivileged and backward communities were allegedly siphoned off over four years.

Officials suspect that forged documents and fabricated records were used to secure approvals for grants under welfare schemes. The funds were then reportedly transferred to the accounts of private agencies without scrutiny and subsequently misused for personal gain.

The alleged scam came to light after a vigilant applicant compiled documentary evidence and submitted it to the authorities. Following preliminary verification, police found the claims to be credible and registered a case, launching a detailed investigation.

Initial findings indicate the involvement of a senior official, several employees, and three to four private agencies linked to the transactions.

Authorities said the alleged mastermind has fled abroad to evade arrest. Legal options, including the issuance of a Red Corner Notice, are being considered to secure his return.