THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Bharuch, June 28: Bharuch police on Saturday arrested Gujarat Congress Vice President Hira Jotva, his son Digvijay Jotva, and an associate in connection with a large-scale scam under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), involving fraudulent documents, fake job cards, and diversion of government funds.
According to Superintendent of Police Mayur Chawda, the scam came to light after a preliminary survey of 11 villages revealed that government money had been misappropriated without any actual work being carried out. This was part of a wider probe that initially covered 56 villages, launched after the Bharuch District Development Officer (DDO) noticed irregularities.
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The investigation found that the funds were withdrawn using forged records and routed into the accounts of people who had not performed any work. The standard 60:40 ratio for material and labor expenditure under MGNREGA was also not followed, raising further suspicion.
Hira Jotva allegedly operated two agencies—Jalaram and Murlidhar—through proxies, with the siphoned money being transferred to his relative’s account. His son Digvijay Jotva reportedly received funds directly into his personal bank account and was apprehended from Gir-Somnath.
Police also arrested Rajesh Tailor, who is accused of submitting fake documentation to extract government payments. SP Chawda confirmed that several others are under the scanner, including the absconding owners of the two agencies. “Those found involved will face strict legal action,” he stated.
