11 more suspended in Jalna compensation scam

Jalna

Eleven more officials, including village revenue officers and clerks, have been suspended by the Jalna district administration in Maharashtra for their alleged role in a ₹34.97 crore compensation scam meant for farmers affected by natural disasters. With this, the total number of suspended officials has risen to 21, following an earlier action against 10 talathis on June 13.

The latest suspensions include seven talathis and four senior clerks from the tehsil office. A probe is also underway against 35 more talathis suspected of involvement.

According to district officials, the scam involved the embezzlement of funds intended for farmers between 2022 and 2024. A network of government employees—including talathis, gram sevaks, and agricultural assistants—allegedly siphoned off the compensation money.

The fraud came to light during an audit, which revealed that several officials had individually misused funds, with some reportedly diverting over ₹1 crore. Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the matter.